Israel Demolishes UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Headquarters in East Jerusalem
Israeli crews have initiated the demolition of the Jerusalem headquarters belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which serves Palestinian refugees. Concurrently, teargas was deployed at a United Nations vocational school located in Qalandia, within the West Bank. This aggressive action represents Israel's most recent measure against Unrwa, an organisation that delivers essential aid to millions of Palestinian refugees across various regions.
Details of the Demolition Operation
Roland Friedrich, Unrwa's director in the West Bank, reported that demolition crews, accompanied by police, arrived at the agency's East Jerusalem headquarters during the early morning hours. Although the facility had been largely vacant for nearly a year due to security threats and incitement, Israeli forces entered the compound, confiscated equipment, and expelled the private security guards tasked with protecting the site. An Israeli flag was subsequently raised above the building in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, where some Israeli politicians gathered to celebrate the organisation's fate.
Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, described the event as "a historic day". The Israeli foreign ministry defended the demolition, stating that "Unrwa-Hamas had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there". They further asserted that "the compound does not enjoy any immunity and the seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law".
Unrwa's Response and Historical Context
Friedrich condemned the action as a violation of international law, which guarantees protection for such facilities. He remarked, "What we saw today is the culmination of two years of incitement and measures against Unrwa in East Jerusalem". Established in 1949, Unrwa's mandate is to provide aid and services to 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, along with an additional 3 million refugees in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. The agency has historically maintained infrastructure in refugee camps, operated schools, and delivered healthcare services.
Philippe Lazzarini, Unrwa's commissioner general, issued a statement on X, warning that "This must be a wake-up call. What happens today to Unrwa will happen tomorrow to any other international organisation or diplomatic mission, whether in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or anywhere around the world". He emphasised that this demolition is part of a broader effort to erase the Palestinian refugee identity.
Background of Tensions and Accusations
Israel has accused Unrwa of collaborating with Hamas, a charge the agency vehemently denies. Following these allegations, Israel banned Unrwa from operating on its territory last year. In 2024, a US intelligence report assessed with "low confidence" that a small number of Unrwa staff may have participated in the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, though it could not independently confirm this assessment's veracity. Nevertheless, Israel's Knesset passed legislation severing ties with Unrwa and prohibiting its operations in areas it defines as Israel, including East Jerusalem.
Unrwa has recorded 382 colleagues killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the conflict began. The demolition on Tuesday follows months of protests by Israeli settlers and right-wing activists, who blocked entrances to the Unrwa office in Jerusalem and called for its closure.
Broader Implications for Humanitarian Organisations
This latest action occurs amidst a sustained political and financial campaign against Unrwa. The United States cut funding to the agency in 2018 under Donald Trump, restored it in 2021 under Joe Biden, and then paused contributions again in 2024. Israel's ban on Unrwa coincides with broader efforts to tighten controls on humanitarian organisations operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. New legislation requires non-governmental groups to dismiss staff accused of activities deemed to "delegitimise Israel" or support boycotts, and to submit detailed staff lists as a condition for continuing operations.
Israeli authorities have warned dozens of organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and Care, that their licences will expire at the end of 2025. Aid groups have criticised these measures as arbitrary, cautioning that further restrictions will disproportionately impact a civilian population already facing an acute humanitarian crisis. The demolition of Unrwa's headquarters underscores the escalating tensions and the challenges faced by international agencies in the region.
