AST JERUSALEM,

On 17 December, UNRWA West Bank office became aware of the presence of Palestinian armed actors in its Health Centre in Jenin Camp, in the northern West Bank. According to reports received, this presence is ongoing. Due to the security situation in the camp, UNRWA has been unable to access the Jenin Camp Health Centre and does not presently have control over the facility and its use.

The Jenin Camp Health Centre is an installation serving Palestine Refugees and is centrally located within the camp. It has been repeatedly restored by UNRWA with generous donor funding following damage and destruction incurred in the context of Israeli Security Forces operations since mid-2023. This forced entry and presence of Palestinian armed actors is a new blatant disregard of UN premises. It has occurred while the Palestinian Security Forces are conducting an operation in and around the camp, ongoing since 14 December.

UNRWA’s service provision in the camp has been severely undermined by the volatile security situation since the beginning of December, with residents unable to consistently access basic services.

UNRWA calls on all sides to respect the inviolability of its facilities, which are protected under international law. The Jenin Camp Health Centre must be vacated immediately to restore its humanitarian character and to continue serving Palestine Refugees.