Malaysia says Israel’s attempts to obstruct UNRWA in East Jerusalem ‘indefensible’

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Malaysia on Tuesday said that Israel’s attempts to obstruct the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the Occupied East Jerusalem are “indefensible,” and slammed Tel Aviv on the forcible entry of its forces into the agency’s premises.

“Malaysia strongly condemns the forcible entry by Israeli forces into the premises of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Occupied East Jerusalem, including the unlawful seizure of United Nations’ (UN) property and the removal of the UN flag on 8 December 2025,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Kuala Lumpur called Israel’s latest action a “blatant violation” of international law, and emphasized that UNRWA remains “indispensable” for millions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Palestinian refugees.

“Malaysia considers any attempts to obstruct, delegitimize, or dismantle its operations are legally indefensible and morally unacceptable,” the statement said, adding that Kuala Lumpur calls on the international community to hold Israel accountable for “its persistent violations of international law.”

According to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, Israeli police, accompanied by municipal officials, forcibly entered the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem in the morning.

“Police motorcycles, as well as trucks and forklifts, were brought in and all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment and other property was seized. The UN flag was pulled down and replaced with an Israeli flag,” he wrote on US social media company X.

UNRWA was established by the UN General Assembly more than 70 years ago to assist Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from their land.

The UN agency has been facing severe financial difficulties since Israel barred it from operating on its soil and launched a defamation campaign claiming that staff members were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. UNRWA personnel were forced to vacate the compound at the beginning of this year.