Israeli forces have demolished buildings within the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency’s (UNRWA) East Jerusalem compound, in a move UN officials have denounced as a breach of international law.
Bulldozers, accompanied by Israeli forces, were seen razing several large and smaller structures inside the compound in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied East Jerusalem, which was seized last year.
It previously served as a workplace for dozens of UNRWA staff members, who have not had access to the premises since early last year after an Israeli directive forced the agency to vacate all its sites and cease operations.
Israeli forces entered the compound around 7am local time and forced out the compound’s security guards before bringing in bulldozers to begin demolishing buildings inside.
Jerusalem deputy mayor Aryeh King vowed to “kick out, kill and destroy all of UNRWA’s people, God willing”, in a now-deleted video from outside the compound where a yellow bulldozer could be seen demolishing buildings.
Jonathan Fowler, a spokesperson for UNRWA, told The Independent that Israel was “taking the open and deliberate defiance of international law to a new level”.
“This is an incredible breach of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations to which all UN member states sign up. But this is unfortunately part of a pattern that we’ve seen which has been cranking up for some time,” he added.
“On 12 December, Israeli forces stormed into our health centre in East Jerusalem and they ordered it to close,” Mr Fowler continued. “We are facing the risk of water and power supplies to our education and health facilities being cut in the coming weeks.
“These are things which are a direct result of legislation that was passed by the Israeli parliament in December, and this basically cranked up existing anti-UNRWA laws that were adopted by the Israeli parliament in October 2024 and have been in force now for a year. They came into force in January 2025.
“We saw arson attacks at the compound in East Jerusalem. I was there personally when that was happening. We had regular stone throwing by people outside the compound.”
Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning the agency from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.
Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on social media where he stood in front of the UNRWA compound as a bulldozer began to tear it down.
“This is a historic day, it’s a holiday,” he announced.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote in a statement: “A new level of open & deliberate defiance of international law, including of the privileges & immunities of the United Nations, by the State of Israel.
“This constitutes an unprecedented attack against a United Nations agency & its premises.
“This must be a wake-up call. What happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organisation or diplomatic mission, whether in the Occupied Palestinian Territory or anywhere around the world.”
Israel has alleged that some UNRWA staff were members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and took part in the attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis.
UNRWA fired several staff members but said Israel had not provided evidence for all the allegations against its staff.
In his statement, Mr Lazzarini said that Israel had conducted “a large-scale disinformation campaign” against UNRWA.
Israel’s foreign ministry insisted the seizure of the compound was carried out in accordance with Israeli and international law.
“The State of Israel owns the Jerusalem compound in which the Israel Land Authority is operating today,” the statement read.
“Even prior to the passage of legislation in January 2025, UNRWA-Hamas had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there.
“The compound does not enjoy any immunity and the seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law.
“UNRWA-Hamas has long ceased to be a humanitarian aid organization, serving instead as a greenhouse for terrorism.”
Israel’s Jerusalem municipality raided the compound last year, claiming UNRWA had failed to pay property taxes after multiple warnings. UNRWA said the agency had no debts to the municipality.
The agency operates in East Jerusalem, which the UN and most countries consider territory occupied by Israel. Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be part of the country.
UNRWA also operates in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere in the Middle East, providing schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions of Palestinians.
