Overview
- Israeli forces entered UNRWA’s Sheikh Jarrah complex at dawn, expelled private guards, confiscated devices and began tearing down buildings as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir looked on.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry says the action follows a law banning UNRWA and asserts the state owns the site and that it is not immune, while UNRWA calls the move an unprecedented violation of UN privileges.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Israel to halt the demolition and return the property, and the Palestinian Authority and several governments issued formal condemnations.
- UNRWA says the demolition and planned cuts to water and power threaten services, noting tear gas was fired at its vocational school in Qalandia and warning of risks to the Shuafat health center.
- The Jerusalem headquarters had been largely closed since early 2025 under Israeli prohibitions; Israel alleges UNRWA ties to Hamas, which the agency denies, and independent reviews found no conclusive evidence of institutional collusion.