Published on 28 January 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office released a joint statement from the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom condemning the 20 January demolition by Israeli authorities of UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem. The ministers urged Israel to halt demolitions and respect the inviolability of United Nations premises. (gov.uk)
The statement anchors its position in international law. The 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations provides that UN premises are inviolable and UN property and assets are immune from search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation or other interference. Article 105 of the UN Charter underlines that the Organisation must enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary to fulfil its purposes. (icj-cij.org)
Ministers reiterated full support for UNRWA’s role delivering healthcare, education and relief to Palestinians, including in East Jerusalem and Gaza, and welcomed the agency’s reform programme following the independent review led by Catherine Colonna. UN documentation records substantive implementation of the review’s neutrality and integrity recommendations. (gov.uk)
They also voiced deep concern over Israeli legislation adopted in October 2024 and strengthened in December 2025 that prohibits contact between state authorities and UNRWA and effectively bars the agency’s presence within Israel and in Jerusalem, including utilities to properties registered under UNRWA. Reporting on the Knesset votes shows large majorities for measures restricting UNRWA operations. (gov.uk)
Events on 20 January 2026 illustrate the operational consequences. United Nations officials condemned demolition works at UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters as an unprecedented attack on a UN agency and a grave breach of UN privileges and immunities. Local UN bodies described forcible entry and destruction of structures at the compound. (palestine.un.org)
The joint statement stresses that humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain severe despite increased aid flows and sets out immediate steps: safe and unimpeded aid delivery across Gaza and the West Bank consistent with international humanitarian law; permission for international NGOs to operate, including by lifting restrictive registration rules; the reopening of all crossings, including Rafah in both directions; and the removal of barriers on essential items designated as “dual use” for relief and early recovery. (gov.uk)
Ministers further note Israel’s agreement to the US President’s 20‑Point Plan for Gaza, which envisages aid entry and distribution led by the United Nations and the Red Crescent without interference and the reopening of Rafah. Public outlines of the plan emphasise large‑scale, UN‑led humanitarian flows alongside security arrangements. (gov.uk)
For practitioners, the policy signals are clear. Rolling back no‑contact provisions and restoring utilities to UNRWA‑registered sites would re‑establish predictable coordination with UN agencies in Jerusalem and enable scaling of water, power and medical support inside Gaza. By contrast, continued enforcement of the 2024–2025 laws and further demolitions would constrain aid pipelines, complicate NGO registration and delay early‑recovery works dependent on items often treated as “dual use”. (timesofisrael.com)
The statement closes by urging Israel, as a UN Member State, to comply with its treaty obligations, halt all demolitions and ensure UNRWA can operate without restriction. The ministers’ position aligns with UN warnings that demolitions and statutory prohibitions threaten continuity of humanitarian operations serving millions of Palestinians. (gov.uk)