The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Thursday that its east Jerusalem offices will be temporarily closed after "Israeli extremists" set fire to the perimeter following weeks of recurrent attacks, as per media reports.
"This evening, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA headquarters in occupied east Jerusalem," agency president Philippe Lazzarini posted on X, criticising the compound's second attack in as many days.
He recalled that a crowd accompanied by armed men were witnessed outside the compound chanting 'Burn down the United Nations.'
"UNRWA and other UN workers were present on the site, which also features fuel and diesel facilities for a fleet of UN automobiles. While there were no casualties among our staff, the fire caused extensive damage to the outdoor areas," Lazzarini said, adding that UNRWA employees extinguished the fire.
The incident took place after two months of "Israeli extremists staging protests outside the UNRWA compound," he claimed, adding that one protest earlier this week "became violent when demonstrators threw stones at UN staff and the buildings of the compound".
Lazzarini said Thursday's arson attempts were "an outrageous development… the lives of UN staff were at a serious risk."
"In light of this second appalling incident in less than a week, I have decided to close down our compound until proper security is restored."
The UNRWA chairman stated that "over the past months, UN staff have regularly been subjected to harassment and intimidation."
"Our compound has been severely vandalised and destroyed. On multiple instances, Israeli radicals threatened our employees with firearms."
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