Jerusalem, Israel. Israel’s cabinet on Sunday approved a plan to build a defence compound on the site of the recently demolished premises of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in East Jerusalem.
Cabinet decision and planned facilities
In a joint statement, the Defence Ministry and Jerusalem Municipality said the new compound would include a military museum, a recruitment office and a defence minister’s office. Defence Minister Israel Katz called the decision one of “sovereignty, Zionism, and security.”
Demolition of the UNRWA compound
Israel in January demolished structures inside the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency’s East Jerusalem compound after seizing the site last year, in an act UNRWA condemned as a violation of international law.
UNRWA operations and response
UNRWA had not used the building since the start of last year after Israel ordered it to vacate all its premises and cease its operations. A UNRWA spokesperson declined to comment on the Israeli plan.
Status of East Jerusalem
The agency operates in East Jerusalem, which the U.N. and most countries consider territory occupied by Israel, as it was captured from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be its indivisible capital.
Allegations involving UNRWA staff and broader conflict context
Katz said establishing the new recruitment office and defence institutions on the site was justified, describing UNRWA as an organization whose employees he said took part in the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Israel has alleged that some UNRWA staff were members of Hamas and took part in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to Israel’s war against Hamas, in which Gaza authorities say more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed.
UNRWA also operates in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere in the Middle East, providing schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions of Palestinians.
What do you think the planned compound will mean for UNRWA’s future presence in East Jerusalem?