UNRWA chief temporarily shuts East Jerusalem HQ after extremists set fire to perimeter

UNRWA says it is temporarily shuttering its East Jerusalem headquarters after “Israeli extremists” set fire to the perimeter following weeks of protests and attacks.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees Philippe Lazzarini says on X, formerly Twitter, that while there were no casualties among the staff, the fire caused “extensive damage to outdoor areas.”

“Our director with the help of other staff had to put out the fire themselves as it took the Israeli fire extinguishers and police a while before they turned up,” he says.

This evening, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA Headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem.

This took place while UNRWA and other UN Agencies’ staff were on the compound.
While there were no casualties among our staff, the fire caused extensive damage… pic.twitter.com/ZqHFDNkiWC

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) May 9, 2024

In an attached video Lazzarini says was taken from “Israeli media,” a crowd can be heard chanting “Burn down the United Nations” in Hebrew.

Calling the arson “an outrageous development,” Lazzarini says he has “taken the decision to close down our compound until proper security is restored.”

“I call on all those who have influence to put an end to these attacks and hold all those responsible accountable,” he adds. “The perpetrators of these attacks must be investigated and those responsible must be held accountable. Anything less will set a new dangerous standard.”