UNRWA rejects assertion that West Bank installations are ‘terror hubs’

AMMAN,

UNRWA refutes in the strongest terms the allegation that its facilities in the West Bank constitute ‘terror hubs’, an assertion made today by a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces in relation to the Jenin Camp Health Centre.

UNRWA has not been able to maintain full control of this facility since at least 17 December. Israeli counterparts were informed accordingly. The occupation of the Health Centre by Palestinian armed actors was condemned on record by UNRWA on 20 December, calling for them to vacate the premises.

The weapons depicted in the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) video filmed inside the Health Centre are abandoned ordinance associated with these Palestinian armed actors. UNRWA has been unable to safely remove this ordinance owing to ongoing violent clashes in Jenin Camp.

Almost without pause since early December 2024, Jenin Camp and the surrounding areas have been subject to large-scale, protracted operations by both Palestinian Security Forces and the ISF. During this time, humanitarian access to the camp has been hindered. UNRWA has been unable to operate critical health and education services. Thousands of residents have been displaced from the camp, which has been rendered nearly uninhabitable.

This presence of ISF personnel inside the Jenin Camp Health Centre is at least the fourth unauthorised entry by the ISF since October 2023. Unauthorised entry by any party into humanitarian installations constitutes a violation of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. In previous instances, UNRWA has been able both to protest and inform of such entries through civil-military coordination channels, and to subsequently document any violations in full.

Just this week, UNRWA has been forced to withdraw under protest all international staff in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Agency is no longer able to maintain any contact with Israeli authorities under the terms of Knesset legislation implemented on 30 January. This incident serves as a reminder of how dangerous this state of affairs is.

UNRWA rejects attempts at disinformation that undermine the critical work of the Agency in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. UNRWA is committed to staying and delivering humanitarian assistance for Palestine Refugees across the occupied Palestinian territories, and to upholding the humanitarian principles.

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.