Israel conducted the demolition of structures within the East Jerusalem compound of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency on Tuesday, following its seizure of the site the previous year. The action, denounced by the agency as a breach of international law, involved the leveling of several large buildings and smaller structures within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound, which had been previously utilized by numerous agency personnel.
UNRWA, accused by Israel of partiality, had ceased operations and vacated the premises as instructed by Israel at the beginning of the previous year. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized Israel’s actions, urging an immediate halt to the demolition and the swift return and restoration of the compound and other UNRWA facilities to the United Nations.
According to Jonathan Fowler, a spokesperson for UNRWA, Israeli forces entered the compound in the early hours of the morning, displaced security guards, and brought in bulldozers. Roland Friedrich, the agency’s West Bank director, reported that demolition crews and police had arrived at the East Jerusalem headquarters earlier that day.
Friedrich expressed that the demolition marked the culmination of two years of hostility and measures against UNRWA in East Jerusalem. Furthermore, clashes ensued in the vicinity of a vocational school for young Palestinians, where tear gas was deployed, resulting in injuries to some students.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition and highlighted a series of Israeli actions targeting the organization, including a recent raid on a medical clinic and plans to cut off power and water to other facilities. Former UNRWA staff indicated that the demolished structures housed aid supplies 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 banning officials from engaging with the agency. On the day of the demolition, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video on social media celebrating the event.
Accusations of bias have been leveled by Israel against UNRWA, alleging ties between some agency staff and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. UNRWA has dismissed several staff members but asserts that Israel has not substantiated all accusations against its employees.
In response to Israel’s actions, Lazzarini condemned what he described as a deliberate defiance of international law and emphasized Israel’s dissemination of misleading information about UNRWA. The Israeli Foreign Ministry defended the compound’s seizure, asserting compliance with both Israeli and international laws.
Last year, Israel’s Jerusalem municipality had raided the compound, citing UNRWA’s failure to settle property taxes despite warnings. UNRWA refuted the claims, stating that it had no outstanding debts to the municipality. Operating in East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, and other Middle Eastern regions, UNRWA offers educational, healthcare, social, and shelter services to millions of Palestinians.
