Israeli construction crews have begun dismantling United Nations facilities that serve Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in an escalation of Jerusalem's campaign to eliminate the organization's operations in territory it controls.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that Israeli forces targeted multiple facilities, including a health clinic and administrative offices, despite the agency's protected status under international law. The move comes three months after Israel's parliament passed legislation effectively banning UNRWA operations within Israeli-controlled territory.
"These actions constitute a direct assault on the international humanitarian architecture," Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's Commissioner-General, said in a statement. He warned that the dismantling of facilities "will deprive tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees of access to essential health and education services."
UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide assistance to Palestinians displaced by the Arab-Israeli war that accompanied Israel's creation. The agency currently serves approximately 5.9 million registered refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza, operating schools, health clinics, and relief programs.
The Israeli government has long viewed UNRWA with suspicion, arguing that the agency perpetuates the refugee issue rather than resolving it. Tensions escalated sharply after Israel accused several UNRWA staff members of participating in the October 7, 2023 attacks that triggered the current war. The agency dismissed the implicated employees and launched internal investigations, but the damage to its relationship with proved irreparable.
