Israel Demolishes UNRWA Compound in East Jerusalem: Violation of International Law
Israel carried out the demolition of structures within the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency's East Jerusalem compound, which it had seized the previous year. The agency condemned this action as a breach of international law. Israeli forces, accompanied by bulldozers, destroyed several buildings and smaller structures within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's compound, where agency staff used to work.
UNRWA, accused of bias by Israel, had not been using the buildings since the beginning of the previous year when Israel instructed it to vacate all premises and halt operations. The agency's spokesperson, Jonathan Fowler, described the incident as an unprecedented attack on UNRWA and a violation of international law and the privileges of the United Nations.
Former UNRWA staff mentioned that the demolished structures were used to store aid for the West Bank and Gaza. Israel had passed a law in October 2024 banning the agency from operating in the country and alleging that some UNRWA staff were affiliated with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israeli foreign ministry stated that the compound did not have immunity and that the seizure was carried out in accordance with Israeli and international law.
The Jerusalem municipality raided the compound, claiming UNRWA owed property taxes of 11 million shekels ($3.4 million) after warnings and procedures. UNRWA maintained that the East Jerusalem compound was still U.N. premises despite the ban on its operations by Israel. The agency operates in East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, and other Middle Eastern regions, providing essential services to millions of Palestinians.
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