Israeli forces have begun the demolition of the East Jerusalem headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), marking a dramatic escalation in the country's crackdown on the body that provides vital aid to millions of Palestinian refugees.
A Major Escalation Against UNRWA
The operation started on Tuesday 20 January 2026 in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. Israeli crews, accompanied by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, moved in with bulldozers. Ben-Gvir hailed the event as a "historic day." UNRWA stated that its staff were forced out of the building and their devices were confiscated by Israeli forces.
In a post on X, the agency condemned the action, calling it an "unprecedented attack" not only on its premises but on the United Nations itself. "It constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations," the statement read.
Longstanding Accusations and Legal Moves
Israel has long accused UNRWA of having pro-Palestinian biases and, more seriously, of collaboration with the militant group Hamas—an allegation the UN vehemently denies. These accusations intensified during the war in Gaza, triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, with Israel claiming militants used UNRWA facilities.
The demolition follows through on a new Israeli law passed last year that bans UNRWA from operating in what Israel defines as its territory, which includes annexed East Jerusalem. The law also severed all coordination between government employees and the agency and stripped UNRWA staff of their legal immunities. Israel's Foreign Ministry cited this legislation as the basis for Tuesday's action.
Broader Impact and Regional Consequences
UNRWA is a critical lifeline for approximately 5.5 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. It provides essential aid, education, and healthcare to some 2.5 million refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, and a further 3 million in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Supporters of the agency argue that Israel's campaign against UNRWA is an attempt to sideline the politically charged issue of Palestinian refugees' right of return, a core dispute in the conflict. The move against UNRWA is part of a wider effort to deregister aid groups operating in Palestinian territories. Dozens of organisations, including Doctors Without Borders, have been told their licenses will expire, a move critics warn will severely harm civilians in desperate need.
This incident follows a raid on the same headquarters last month and comes after the Trump administration cut funding to the agency in 2018. The future of humanitarian operations for Palestinians now faces one of its most severe challenges in decades.
