UNRWA alleges Israeli takeover of agency buildings in East Jerusalem

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has claimed that Israel was taking over buildings it says belong to the agency in the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, which the Jerusalem Municipality denied.

According to the UNRWA statement posted last week, and shared by its West Bank director Roland Friedrich on X, “Personnel associated with the Jerusalem Municipality have in recent days entered UNRWA facilities without authorization, including the school compound, health center, and community services office.”

The Jerusalem Municipality rejected the allegation, telling The Times of Israel that “these are not UNRWA properties, but privately owned properties for which the municipality has signed a usage agreement.”

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“According to the owners of these properties, UNRWA itself unlawfully took control of them and did not pay [rent] during this period. The municipality intends to open educational institutions at the site for the benefit of residents of the surrounding neighborhoods,” the municipality said.

However, the UNRWA charged in its statement that the premises were forcibly entered by breaking locks, and that contractors working on behalf of the municipality had begun carrying out work at the sites. The agency asserted that the moves violate international law protecting UNRWA property.

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In late 2024, Israel passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem, alleging that the UN agency was riddled with Hamas terrorists and fomenting anti-Israel sentiment in its schools.

Following the legislation, Israel shut down UNRWA schools in the Shuafat refugee camp and other parts of East Jerusalem, leaving several hundred students without educational institutions.

Israel has repeatedly alleged and shown evidence that employees of the UN agency were actively involved in terror groups in the Gaza Strip, and some participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion and slaughter.

In June, amid Israeli accusations that UN staffers were Hamas operatives, the UNRWA fired 70 Gaza employees “to mitigate safety and security risks for the refugees” without mentioning the name of the terror group.

Israel has also long accused the agency’s schools of inciting hatred of Israel and glorification of attacks against Israelis.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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