Jerusalem, Israel. Israel demolished structures inside the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency’s East Jerusalem compound on Tuesday after seizing the site last year, an act UNRWA condemned as a violation of international law.
Demolition at UNRWA compound
Surrounded by Israeli forces, bulldozers razed several large buildings and other smaller structures inside the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s compound, where dozens of agency staff once worked.
UNRWA has not used the building since the start of last year after Israel ordered it to vacate all its premises and cease its operations.
UNRWA account of events
UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler told Reuters that Israeli forces entered the compound around 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), forced out the compound’s security guards and then brought in bulldozers to begin demolishing buildings inside.
Agency condemnation and recent actions cited
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition in a statement on X, calling it “a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law.”
He said it was the latest of a series of Israeli actions against UNRWA, including a raid on a medical clinic this month and a plan to cut power and water to UNRWA facilities in the coming weeks.
Former staff reactions
Some former UNRWA staff said the structures demolished on Tuesday had been used to store aid for the West Bank and Gaza.
“The destruction today by the Israeli occupation is another message to the world that Israel is the only country that can demolish international law and get away with it,” said Hakam Shahwan, former chief of staff at UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters.
Israeli legislation and minister’s post
Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning the agency from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on social media standing in front of the UNRWA compound as a bulldozer began to tear it down.
What impact do you think the demolition will have on UNRWA’s ability to operate in the region?
