Israel Demolishes UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem
Israel began demolishing UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters on Jan. 20, 2026, after laws banning the agency; the UN and Palestinians condemned the action as unlawful.
Overview
On Jan. 20, 2026, Israeli police and Israel Land Authority crews entered UNRWA’s Sheikh Jarrah compound in East Jerusalem and began demolitions using bulldozers and engineering equipment.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the state owns the compound, argued it lacked immunity under new 2024–2025 legislation banning UNRWA operations and reclaiming agency land.
UNRWA called the demolition an "unprecedented attack", Philippe Lazzarini warned other organisations could be targeted, and the UN secretary-general urged restoration of UN control.
Israeli forces also fired tear gas at a vocational school in Qalandia; medical reports said students suffered injuries and UNRWA warned services at health and training centers could be imperiled.
The demolitions follow years of Israeli accusations that some UNRWA staff aided Hamas, denied by the agency, amid broader restrictions on aid groups and rising settler-Palestinian violence.
Analysis
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Sources (4)
FAQ
The Knesset passed a pair of laws in late October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating within Israeli territory.
Israel's Foreign Ministry stated that the state owns the compound, UNRWA-Hamas had ceased operations there with no UN personnel or activity, following 2024-2025 legislation banning UNRWA and reclaiming its land; Israel accuses UNRWA staff of ties to Hamas and facilities of inciting hatred.
UNRWA called it an 'unprecedented attack' violating international law and UN privileges; UN Secretary-General condemned it strongly, stating the compound is inviolable UN premises and urged immediate cessation and restoration.
Israel accuses some UNRWA staff of aiding Hamas, over 10% of Gaza staff having ties to terrorist factions, educational facilities inciting hatred and glorifying terror, and revealed a Hamas data center beneath UNRWA's Gaza headquarters.
Israeli forces fired tear gas at a vocational school in Qalandia, injuring students; UNRWA warned that services at health and training centers could be imperiled.
History
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