Israel carried out the demolition of structures within the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency’s compound in East Jerusalem on Tuesday after taking control of the site the previous year. The action, which the agency denounced as a breach of international law, involved the leveling of several large buildings and smaller structures by bulldozers, under the watch of Israeli forces.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), accused by Israel of bias, had ceased operations at the compound since the beginning of the prior year following an Israeli directive to vacate all premises. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Israel’s move, urging an immediate halt to the demolition and the swift return of the compound and other UNRWA facilities to the United Nations.
According to UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler, Israeli forces entered the compound early in the morning, displaced security guards, and brought in the bulldozers to carry out the demolition. Roland Friedrich, the agency’s director in the West Bank, stated that the demolition was the culmination of two years of escalating actions and hostility towards UNRWA in East Jerusalem.
In addition to the demolition at the headquarters, Israeli forces also fired tear gas at a vocational school for young Palestinians on the outskirts of Jerusalem, causing distress among the students. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition as part of a series of Israeli aggressions against the organization, including recent raids and plans to cut off essential services to other facilities.
Former UNRWA staff members revealed that the structures demolished were utilized for storing aid intended for the West Bank and Gaza. The destruction further accentuated the ongoing tensions between Israel and UNRWA, with the former passing a law in 2024 prohibiting the agency’s operations within the country.
Accusations of bias have been leveled against UNRWA, with Israel claiming that some staff members were affiliated with the militant group Hamas and were involved in attacks against Israel. UNRWA has dismissed some staff members but demanded concrete evidence from Israel to support all allegations.
Israel defended its actions, stating that the seizure and demolition of the compound were carried out in compliance with both Israeli and international laws. The Jerusalem municipality, citing unpaid property taxes, had raided the compound the previous year, a claim refuted by UNRWA, asserting that it had no outstanding debts.
UNRWA’s operations in East Jerusalem, deemed occupied territory by most nations and the UN, extend to Gaza, the West Bank, and other regions in the Middle East, providing vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees.