UN chief blasts ‘unlawful’ Israeli entry into UNRWA’s Kalandia center, demands its return
NEW YORK CITY: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the “unlawful entry” by Israeli forces into Kalandia Training Centre, a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees facility in occupied East Jerusalem.
It came after Israel moved to seize and begin dismantling the premises, one of the oldest UN vocational training centers for Palestinian refugees.
Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said Israeli security forces unlawfully entered the facility, remained there and carried out unauthorized works, while UNRWA staff were present. He said the secretary-general was “greatly alarmed” that Israel’s actions would deprive young people of the vocational education the center has provided for more than 70 years.
Tuesday’s incident was the fifth unauthorized entry by Israeli authorities at the center since May, Duajrric said, and followed earlier breaches at other UNRWA sites including the seizure and demolition of the agency’s Sheikh Jarrah compound, and the cutting of water and electricity supplies to several other facilities.
