Israel took down structures within the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency’s East Jerusalem compound on Tuesday following its seizure of the site last year, a move criticized by the agency as a breach of international law. Surrounded by Israeli forces, bulldozers demolished several large buildings and smaller structures inside the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound, which was previously used by dozens of agency staff.
UNRWA, accused by Israel of bias, had not been using the building since the beginning of last year when Israel instructed it to vacate all premises and halt operations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced Israel’s actions, urging an immediate halt to the demolition and the restoration of the compound and other UNRWA facilities to the United Nations without delay.
A spokesperson for UNRWA, Jonathan Fowler, reported that Israeli forces entered the compound early in the morning, removed security guards, and brought in bulldozers. Roland Friedrich, the agency’s West Bank director, stated that demolition crews and police arrived at the East Jerusalem headquarters on Tuesday. He described the events as the culmination of two years of hostility and measures against UNRWA in East Jerusalem.
Friedrich mentioned that forces also fired tear gas at a vocational school for young Palestinians near Jerusalem, where over 300 young refugees receive vocational training. Some children were affected by the tear gas, and a 15-year-old was injured in the eye with a rubber bullet, as reported by the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem governate.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini criticized the demolition as part of a series of Israeli actions against the organization, including a recent raid on a medical clinic and plans to cut off power and water to other facilities in the coming weeks. Former UNRWA staff members noted that the demolished structures stored aid for the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from engaging with the agency, a move that was criticized by Canada as setting a dangerous precedent. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated the demolition, stating it was a historic day.
Accusations of bias have been raised by Israel, alleging that some UNRWA staff were Hamas members involved in attacks on Israel. UNRWA has dismissed several staff members but stated that Israel has not provided evidence to support all accusations against its employees. Lazzarini accused Israel of conducting a disinformation campaign against UNRWA.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry defended the seizure of the compound, stating that it was done in compliance with both Israeli and international law. UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, considered occupied territory by the UN and most nations, although Israel regards all of Jerusalem as part of its territory. UNRWA provides education, healthcare, social services, and shelter to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and other parts of the Middle East.