Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jan 20: Israeli authorities on Tuesday began demolishing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in east Jerusalem, intensifying pressure on humanitarian organisations operating in Palestinian areas.
Israeli security forces arrived at the UN complex on Ammunition Hill in northern Jerusalem to evacuate staff and carry out the demolition. The site serves as UNRWA’s central headquarters for operations across Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem, housing the agency’s main logistical infrastructure.
The move comes amid Israel’s tightening restrictions on humanitarian groups providing aid to Palestinians. Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA of pro-Palestinian bias and alleged links to Hamas, allegations the UN agency has consistently denied.
In a statement posted on X, UNRWA said Israeli forces confiscated staff devices and forcibly evacuated personnel from the headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. “This is an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” the agency said.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the demolition was carried out in line with a new law banning UNRWA, reiterating allegations that the organisation has links to militant groups, including Hamas. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he accompanied the demolition crews and described the action as a “historic day”.
Since the start of the war, Israel has claimed that some UNRWA operatives had links with Hamas and alleged that a few were involved in the October 7 attack. Israeli authorities have also alleged the discovery of tunnels and militant infrastructure beneath UNRWA buildings in the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA, however, continues to maintain that it operates strictly as a humanitarian agency, running infrastructure in Palestinian refugee camps, schools and healthcare facilities in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Measures against UNRWA began in late 2024 when Israel decided to outlaw all of the organisation’s activities within its borders. In December 2025, the Knesset voted to disconnect UNRWA facilities from water and electricity supplies.
Less than two weeks ago, Israeli forces had also moved to evacuate a UNRWA facility located in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.