Occupied Jerusalem (QNN) – Israeli forces seized and began demolishing buildings at the UNRWA headquarters in occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday, as part of a broader campaign to dismantle the agency and erase Palestinian refugee identity.
UNRWA stated on Tuesday that Israeli forces had confiscated staff devices and forced them out of their office in Sheikh Jarrah.
“This is an unprecedented attack, not only against UNRWA but also a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” the statement read.
Local sources reported that Israeli troops, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the compound after sealing surrounding streets and increasing military presence, then proceeded to demolish internal structures.
According to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, far-right Israeli lawmakers and government members were present during the demolition, which followed steps aimed at erasing Palestine refugee identity.
He warned that what happened to UNRWA “could happen to any other international organization or diplomatic mission anywhere in the world.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the demolition was in accordance with a new law banning the agency.
Israel has long targeted UNRWA, which was established in 1949 to provide education, health care, and aid to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
The Israeli Knesset passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA’s operations and prohibiting official contact with the agency. It amended the law last month to cut electricity and water to UNRWA facilities.
Last month, Israel also seized UNRWA’s East Jerusalem offices.
In a January 8 letter to ICC-wanted Netanyahu, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated the UN cannot ignore Israel’s actions violating international law and called for immediate reversal.
He warned he might refer the case to the International Court of Justice if Israel does not repeal the laws and return seized UNRWA assets.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who accompanied the crews during the operation, called it a “historic day.”
He was joined by the far-right deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Aryeh King, who said during the demolition, “God willing, we will expel, kill, eliminate and destroy all UNRWA personnel.”
Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA’s Arabic language spokesperson, stated that no other country had ever removed the UN flag from its premises as Israel did.
“The agency no longer has any headquarters, offices, or institutions on the ground due to Israeli decisions,” he told Al Araby TV.
He said that Israel has expressed its intention to dismantle UNRWA and erase the Palestinian refugee issue.
Recently, Israel banned dozens of international aid groups from operating in Gaza.
The Israeli government revoked licenses for 36 organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the Norwegian Refugee Council, citing non-compliance with new regulations that require detailed information about staff, funding, and activities.
A January 5 UN report revealed that 382 UNRWA staff members have been killed in Gaza since the war began—the highest casualty count for the UN in its history. Some died in repeated Israeli attacks on UNRWA hospitals and schools sheltering over one million displaced people.
Top UN officials and the Security Council have called UNRWA the backbone of humanitarian aid in Gaza, where two years of Israeli genocide have killed over 71,000 Palestinians amid an ongoing aid blockade.
In October, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel is obligated to meet Gaza civilians’ basic needs.
It also reaffirmed Israel’s duty to respect the privileges and immunities granted to the UN, including UNRWA and its staff.
The opinion—requested by the UN General Assembly—carries legal and political weight but is nonbinding and lacks enforcement mechanisms.
Guterres underlined that UNRWA is “an integral part of the United Nations” and emphasized that Israel remains bound to accords laid out in the 1946 UN Privileges and Immunities Convention.
The convention affirms that “the premises of the United Nations shall be inviolable.”
In Gaza, much of the 2.2 million population depends on UNRWA and aid groups for food, shelter, health care, and education. Smaller organizations also rely on UNRWA’s distribution networks to function.
