The United Nations says Israeli crews have begun bulldozing the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in east Jerusalem. The move comes amid increasing crackdowns on humanitarian groups.
Bulldozers, surrounded by Israeli forces, tore down several large and smaller structures inside the compound, which UNRWA has not used since early last year after Israel ordered the agency to vacate its premises and halt operations.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said the demolition marked a "new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law, including of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, by the State of Israel."
He said it followed a series of Israeli measures affecting UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem, adding that UN premises are inviolable under international law and must be protected by all UN member states.
A UNRWA spokesperson said Israeli forces entered the site early in the morning, removed security guards and began demolitions. Former staff said some of the buildings had been used to store aid for the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel has accused UNRWA of bias and alleged that some staff were linked to Hamas. The agency says it has dismissed several employees, but that Israel has not provided evidence for all claims.
Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting official contact with it.
Israel’s foreign ministry said the compound did not enjoy immunity and that its seizure complied with Israeli and international law. The Jerusalem municipality said the action followed unpaid property taxes, which UNRWA denies, insisting the site remains a UN premises.
UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank and across the Middle East, providing education, healthcare and social services to millions of Palestinians.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 15th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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Israel’s National Guard is preparing to deploy drones capable of firing tear gas at Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as part of security preparations ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israeli Channel 12 reported on Saturday.
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