Israeli forces moved into East Jerusalem early Tuesday with bulldozers to demolish the United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters, citing significant national security and terrorism concerns regarding the agency’s operation in the area.
The operation, conducted under the supervision of Israeli lawmakers and government officials, follows the recent confiscation of agency devices and the forced closure of a nearby health center on Jan. 14.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner general, released a statement on X, saying the actions by Israel are “a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law.”
The demolition is the culmination of years of mounting tension between Israel and the U.N. body. Israeli officials have repeatedly accused the UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas agents and employing people with allegiance to the terrorist group.
Israel has alleged that several agency employees had a direct hand in the Oct. 7 massacre, an accusation that has fueled the government’s push to disassemble the organization from operating in the region. The UNRWA has admitted that the evidence points to at least nine of its employees having “been involved in the attacks of 7 October.”
In December, the Knesset passed sweeping legislation that effectively banned the agency from operating on Israeli soil, building on a series of anti-UNRWA laws first adopted in 2024.
Proponents of the move argue that the agency has become a tool for Palestinian militants and that its presence in Jerusalem is a violation of Israeli sovereignty.
Lazzarini said the actions by the Israeli government are a direct result of the legislation passed by the Knesset in December.
Lazzarini warned in the statement that the Israeli government also plans to cut water and power supplies to the agency’s remaining education and health facilities in the coming weeks and said, “This must be a wake-up call.”
The U.N. has maintained that as a member state, Israel is legally obligated to respect the inviolability of U.N. premises.
Lazzarini further characterized the demolition as part of a broader effort to erase the identity of Palestinian refugees, many of whom rely on the agency for essential services.
The International Court of Justice issued a ruling in October ordering Israel to facilitate the agency’s operations, a mandate U.N. officials say is being openly disregarded.
Despite international pressure, the Israeli government remains steadfast that the UNRWA poses a direct threat to national security and must be replaced by alternative humanitarian organizations.
