Israel Demolishes Buildings in UN Palestinian Agency’s East Jerusalem Compound
Israeli forces have carried out the demolition of buildings within the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency's (UNRWA) compound in East Jerusalem, an action that the agency has strongly denounced as a violation of international law. The site, which was reportedly seized by Israel last year, saw bulldozers accompanied by Israeli personnel razing several large and smaller structures on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Details of the Demolition Operation
According to UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler, Israeli forces entered the compound around 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), forcibly removed the compound's security guards, and then brought in bulldozers to begin demolishing the buildings inside. This location had previously served as a workplace for dozens of UNRWA staff members, though the agency has not occupied the premises since early last year following an Israeli directive to vacate all its sites and cease operations.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition in a statement on social media, calling it "a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law." He noted that this is the latest in a series of Israeli actions against UNRWA, including a raid on a medical clinic earlier this month and plans to cut power and water to UNRWA facilities in the coming weeks.
Background and Reactions
Some former UNRWA staff reported that the structures demolished on Tuesday had been used to store aid for the West Bank and Gaza. Hakam Shahwan, former chief of staff at UNRWA's East Jerusalem headquarters, stated, "The destruction today by the Israeli occupation is another message to the world that Israel is the only country that can demolish international law and get away with it."
In October 2024, Israel's parliament passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency. Israel has alleged that some UNRWA staff were members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and participated in the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to a war in which Gaza authorities say more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed.
UNRWA has fired several staff members but maintains that Israel has not provided evidence for all the allegations. Lazzarini accused Israel of conducting "a large-scale disinformation campaign" against the agency.
Legal and Political Context
The Israeli foreign ministry asserted that "the seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law." Last year, Israel's Jerusalem municipality raided the compound, claiming UNRWA had failed to pay property taxes after multiple warnings, a claim UNRWA denies, stating the agency has no debts to the municipality.
UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, which the United Nations and most countries consider territory occupied by Israel, while Israel views all Jerusalem as part of its country. The agency also provides schooling, healthcare, social services, and shelter to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on social media standing in front of the UNRWA compound as a bulldozer began the demolition, declaring, "This is a historic day, it's a holiday." This incident highlights ongoing tensions and disputes over sovereignty, international law, and humanitarian operations in the region.
