Israeli forces demolished buildings within the East Jerusalem compound of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency on Tuesday, following the seizure of the site last year. The move, condemned by the agency as a breach of international law, involved the bulldozing of several large structures and smaller buildings at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound.
UNRWA, which has been accused by Israel of bias, had vacated the premises and halted operations in early last year following an Israeli order. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Israel’s actions, urging an immediate halt to the demolition and the restoration of the compound and other UNRWA facilities to the United Nations.
According to a spokesperson for UNRWA, Israeli forces entered the compound in the morning, displaced security guards, and brought in bulldozers. The agency’s West Bank director mentioned that demolition crews and police arrived at the East Jerusalem headquarters early on Tuesday, culminating in what he described as two years of hostility and measures against UNRWA in the area.
In a related incident, tear gas was fired at a vocational school for young Palestinians on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where over 300 refugees receive job training in technology and welding. The Palestinian Authority reported that some children were affected by the gas, with one 15-year-old sustaining an injury from a rubber bullet.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition as part of a series of Israeli actions against the organization, criticizing it as a blatant violation of international law. Former UNRWA personnel revealed that the destroyed structures were used to store aid for the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel’s parliament had previously passed a law in October 2024 prohibiting UNRWA from operating in the country and restricting officials from engaging with the agency. In a video posted on social media, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated the demolition of the UNRWA compound.
Accusations of bias have been leveled against UNRWA by Israel, alleging ties between some staff members and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Despite dismissals within the agency, not all allegations have been substantiated by Israel. UNRWA’s Lazzarini denounced what he termed a misinformation campaign orchestrated by Israel against the organization.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry defended the seizure of the compound, asserting compliance with both Israeli and international laws. The Jerusalem municipality conducted the raid last year due to alleged unpaid property taxes by UNRWA, a claim refuted by the agency. UNRWA’s operations in East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, and other locations in the Middle East cater to millions of Palestinians with educational, healthcare, social, and shelter services.