The destruction comes as Israel clamps down on NGOs offering humanitarian assist to Palestinians in Gaza.
Printed On 20 Jan 2026
Israel has begun bulldozing the headquarters of the United Nations Reduction and Works Company (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem because the far-right authorities clamps down closely on humanitarian teams that present desperately wanted assist to Palestinians in Gaza.
UNRWA mentioned on X on Tuesday that Israeli forces had confiscated workers gadgets and compelled them out of their headquarters within the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.
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“That is an unprecedented assault not solely in opposition to UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a critical violation of worldwide regulation and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” it mentioned.
Native sources reported that an Israeli military pressure, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the company’s compound after sealing off the encompassing streets and intensifying its navy presence within the space, and proceeded to demolish buildings contained in the compound, in line with the Wafa information company.
Israel has repeatedly attacked UNRWA for what it phrases pro-Palestinian leanings and accused the group of ties to Hamas, with out offering proof and which the UN company has vehemently denied.
Israel’s Overseas Ministry mentioned the demolition was following via on a brand new regulation that banned the group,
Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mentioned in a press release that he had accompanied crews to the headquarters and known as it a “historic day.”
Israel has confronted global condemnation after a ban on dozens of worldwide assist organisations working to supply life-saving help to Palestinians within the war-ravaged Gaza Strip got here into impact weeks in the past.
Israel has revoked the working licences of 37 aid groups, together with Docs With out Borders, recognized by its French initials MSF, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, for failing to adjust to new authorities laws.
The brand new guidelines require worldwide NGOs working in Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution to supply detailed info on workers members, in addition to their funding and operations.
Final week, United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he might take his nation to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice if it doesn’t repeal legal guidelines focusing on the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) and return its seized belongings and property.
In a January 8 letter to Netanyahu, Guterres mentioned the UN can’t stay detached to “actions taken by Israel, that are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel underneath worldwide regulation. They should be reversed immediately.”
Israel’s parliament handed a regulation in October 2024 banning UNRWA from working in Israel and prohibiting Israeli officers from having contact with the company. It then amended the regulation final month to ban electrical energy or water to UNRWA services.
Israeli authorities additionally seized UNRWA’s occupied East Jerusalem places of work final month. The UN considers East Jerusalem occupied by Israel. Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be a part of the nation.
