UNITED NATIONS/LJUBLJANA/RAMALLAH - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned Israel's unauthorized entry earlier in the day into the UN Sheikh Jarrah compound held by the UN relief agency for Palestinians located in occupied East Jerusalem.
Guterres said in a statement that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)'s compound "remains United Nations premises and is inviolable and immune from any other form of interference".
As recently confirmed by the International Court of Justice, any executive, administrative, judicial or legislative action against UN property and assets is prohibited under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the UN chief said.
Guterres urged Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to restore, preserve and uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises and to refrain from taking any further action with regard to UNRWA premises, in line with its obligations under the UN Charter and its other obligations under international law.
Also on Monday, Slovenia condemned Israel's move in East Jerusalem. "Slovenia strongly condemns the forced entry of Israeli authorities into the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, the seizure of property and the removal of the UN flag," the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said on social media platform X.
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Such actions violate the inviolability of UN premises and represent a breach of international legal obligations, it said, calling on Israel to fully respect international law and ensure the safety and protection of UN personnel.
Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, officially recognized the statehood of Palestine in June 2024.
Second phase of Gaza ceasefire
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday reaffirmed the need to advance to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
During a phone call with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Abbas reiterated the Palestinian position, which include a full cessation of hostilities, complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the State of Palestine assuming administrative and security responsibilities in the enclave, and the start of the second phase of the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.
He said work is underway with Saudi Arabia, the US, and other mediators and partners to end the conflict and implement the two-state solution in line with international law, paving the way for comprehensive regional peace.
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Abbas also briefed Tokayev on the difficult situation facing Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, urging the international community to press Israel to halt its "unilateral measures, stop settler violence, and release the withheld Palestinian funds".
