On 20 January 2026, the Israeli military demolished the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem. The demolition follows a series of Israeli measures targeting international organizations that support the Palestinian people, specifically UNRWA.
UNRWA has long been targeted by Israel on the basis of allegations linking it to Hamas, allegations that lack evidence and have been rejected by international bodies, including the International Court of Justice. In October 2024, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) passed two laws prohibiting UNRWA’s work.
The UN strongly condemned the demolition of UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem , calling it a serious violation of international law and the protections afforded to UN premises.
The demolition reflects Israel’s broader policy of restricting the operations of humanitarian organizations serving Palestinians, through strict licensing requirements, limits on staff access, and targeting of critical facilities.
Palestinian human rights groups view the Israeli targeting as part of a wider effort to dismantle UNRWA and undermine the Palestinian people’s right of return.
Founded in 1949, UNRWA provides essential services to about 5.5 million Palestinian refugees across the occupied Gaza strip, the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, including education, healthcare, and camp infrastructure.
Sources:
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/20/israel-bulldozes-unrwa-buildings-in-occupied-east-jerusalem
- https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/28/middleeast/unrwa-israel-knesset-vote-ban-palestinians-intl
- https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-commissioner-general-unprecedented-violation-un-premises
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166792
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp874nng8xvo
- https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syoomfuaeg
- https://www.mezan.org/public/en/post/46564/Israel-Bans-UNRWA,-Gaza%E2%80%99s-Lifeline:-Latest-Move-in-Ongoing-Campaign-Against-the-Palestinian-People-and-Their-Right-of-Return
