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Israel Demolishes Former UNRWA Headquarters in Jerusalem After Knesset Ban
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israeli authorities on Tuesday began demolishing the former headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, marking a decisive enforcement of legislation passed by the Knesset banning UNRWA activity inside Israeli territory.
The compound, which had served as UNRWA’s central base for operations in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, was entered early in the morning by Israeli forces accompanied by bulldozers and demolition equipment. The action followed a series of laws approved in late 2024 that formally ended UNRWA’s legal standing and operations within Israel.
UNRWA responded with sharp condemnation, calling the demolition an “unprecedented attack” and alleging violations of international law. In a statement, the agency said the move constituted “a serious violation of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the claims, stating that the property belongs to the State of Israel and that UNRWA had already vacated the site prior to the demolition. According to the ministry, the compound no longer enjoyed any diplomatic or legal immunity and the enforcement action was carried out in accordance with Israeli and international law.
Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of deep institutional ties to Hamas, allegations that intensified following the October 7, 2023, terror attacks. During the Gaza war, Israeli authorities released evidence they say shows UNRWA employees actively participating in Hamas activities, including lists of staff identified as members of Hamas’s military wing and images recovered from Hamas computers depicting UNRWA personnel at terror-related events. Israel has also said it provided UNRWA with the names of at least 12 employees accused of taking part directly in the October 7 massacre.
The Israel Defense Forces has further alleged that Hamas infrastructure, including a subterranean data center, was discovered beneath UNRWA facilities in Gaza, and that terror operatives routinely used UNRWA schools and compounds as command centers. Testimony from freed Israeli hostages has also indicated that some were held inside UNRWA-linked facilities during their captivity.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who arrived at the site as demolition work began, described the event as a turning point for Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem. He called it “a historic day” and said that “terror supporters who entrenched themselves here for years are finally being removed.”
The legislative groundwork for the demolition was laid in October 2024, when the Knesset overwhelmingly approved a law banning UNRWA from operating inside Israel, with 92 lawmakers voting in favor and only 10 opposing. A separate law stripped the agency of diplomatic privileges and ended all Israeli government cooperation. In December, Israeli police raided the Ammunition Hill compound after UNRWA failed to vacate the premises, citing unpaid municipal taxes totaling approximately NIS 11 million.
Israel’s stance has received backing from the administration of Donald Trump, which reversed the policy of Joe Biden and openly supported Israel’s ban on UNRWA after returning to office last year.
Despite the ban, UNRWA has attempted to maintain limited operations in parts of East Jerusalem, including schools and health services, a situation Israeli officials say will no longer be tolerated.
Critics of Israel’s actions argue that UNRWA plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and warn that dismantling the agency could worsen poverty and instability. Israeli leaders counter that the organization has abandoned its humanitarian mandate and instead functions as what officials describe as a “greenhouse for terrorism.”
The demolition at Ammunition Hill signals that Israel intends to fully enforce its UNRWA legislation and underscores a broader shift in policy aimed at removing the agency’s footprint from Jerusalem and the rest of the country.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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