US EditionIsrael Demolishes UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem Following Legal Ban
Israeli authorities demolished UNRWA buildings in East Jerusalem after banning the agency's operations in 2025, impacting services for millions of Palestinian refugees, UNRWA said.
- On January 20, 2026, bulldozers and Israeli security forces began demolishing UNRWA structures at Ammunition Hill, East Jerusalem, after the site was seized last year, which UNRWA condemned.
- On May 30, authorities issued a decision ordering UNRWA to vacate the premises within 30 days, citing land-related licensing procedures, after the October 2024 law banning UNRWA.
- At around 7 a.m., Israeli security forces forced out UNRWA security guards, confiscated staff devices, then Israel Lands Authority representatives brought bulldozers to demolish the Ammunition Hill headquarters.
- As a result, UNRWA's East Jerusalem operations will cease, transferring responsibilities to the State of Israel and risking service disruptions for 192,000 Palestinian refugees, while U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the demolitions and threatened legal action.
- Israel accuses some UNRWA staff of ties to Hamas and October 7 participation, while UNRWA fired several staff and said not all allegations were proven; earlier steps included a reported 1,440‑unit settlement plan.
119 Articles
119 Articles
The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees condemns the "unprecedented attack," which is part of Israel's attempt to "delete the identity" of those expelled by its occupation.Spain and six other European countries attack Israel for measures against UNRWA and Israeli excavators NGOs began to demolish on Tuesday the UN agency compound for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) located in occupied East Jerusalem, after Israel vetoed its activity on its territory…
The Israeli authorities began to demolish the headquarters of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) in Jerusalem on Tuesday, after a new law that prohibits the organization's operations in the country came into force.Read more
UN accuses Israel of 'unprecedented attack' as diggers start demolishing UNRWA site
The UN Palestinian refugee agency's former chief of staff says the move is "another message to the world that Israel is the only country that can demolish international law and get away with it".
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