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Israeli Police Raid UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Compound in East Jerusalem
Israeli police forcibly entered the compound of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem early Monday, escalating tensions in Israel’s ongoing campaign against the organization that was banned from operating on Israeli territory earlier this year.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported that “sizeable numbers” of Israeli forces, including police on motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts, entered the compound in the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The agency said communications to the compound were cut during the incursion.
“The unauthorized and forceful entry by Israeli security forces is an unacceptable violation of UNRWA’s privileges and immunities as a UN agency,” UNRWA stated in their official response.
Photos captured by an Associated Press photographer showed police erecting an Israeli flag atop the compound and police vehicles stationed on the street. Additional images provided by UNRWA staff documented Israeli police officers inside the premises.
Israeli authorities claimed they entered the compound for a “debt-collection procedure” initiated by Jerusalem’s municipal government, which has not responded to requests for comment.
The raid marks the latest development in Israel’s intensifying campaign against UNRWA, which provides essential aid and services to approximately 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, as well as 3 million additional refugees in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
UNRWA was established following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war to assist an estimated 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the creation of the Israeli state. Supporters of the agency argue that Israel’s efforts to dismantle UNRWA are aimed at erasing the Palestinian refugee issue, while Israel maintains that refugees should be permanently resettled outside its borders.
Throughout the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, 2023, UNRWA served as the primary lifeline for Gaza’s population, which became heavily dependent on humanitarian aid following extensive Israeli bombardment and severe restrictions on the entry of goods. These restrictions have eased somewhat since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10.
Israel has repeatedly accused the agency of Hamas infiltration, allegations the UN has consistently denied. After months of mounting criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners, Israel formally banned UNRWA from operating on its territory in January. The United States, formerly UNRWA’s largest donor, suspended its funding to the agency in early 2024.
The agency has since struggled to maintain its operations in Gaza, with other UN bodies like the World Food Program and UNICEF attempting to fill gaps that UNRWA officials describe as “unfillable.”
“If you squeeze UNRWA out, what other agency can fill that void?” asked Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s director of external relations and communications, in an interview with the Associated Press in Doha. She noted that UNRWA has been excluded from regional peace discussions.
The Jerusalem compound was shut down by UNRWA in May after far-right protesters, including at least one member of Israeli Parliament, breached its gate while police were present. Israel’s far-right factions have advocated converting the compound into a settlement.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue in the region. Netanyahu met Monday with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Walz and other officials. The visit, according to the Trump administration, aimed to advance a 20-point plan for Gaza proposed by President Donald Trump in September, which includes the current ceasefire and subsequent phases.
With most hostage bodies recently returned to Israel, Arab and Western officials have indicated that an international governing body for Gaza could be announced within weeks. Hamas has expressed willingness to discuss “freezing or storing” its weapons arsenal as part of the ceasefire agreement, potentially resolving one of the most contentious aspects of the US-brokered deal.
Netanyahu and Trump are expected to meet in the coming weeks to discuss these developments, which represent significant steps toward stabilizing a region devastated by two years of conflict. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the war has claimed at least 70,360 Palestinian lives, with nearly half being women and children. The ministry, which operates under Hamas governance but produces figures considered reliable by international organizations, also reports over 370 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began.
The war was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Violence continues in other areas as well. On Sunday night, Israeli military forces shot and killed a 19-year-old Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank. Military officials stated he was throwing rocks at soldiers, while Palestinian authorities identified him as a resident of the northern city of Qalqilya.
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6 Comments
As a supporter of human rights, I’m disappointed to see reports of Israeli police violating the privileges and immunities of the UN refugee agency. UNRWA plays a vital role in supporting Palestinian communities, and its operations should not be impeded.
This highlights the complex and sensitive nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sides need to respect international law and the neutrality of UN agencies providing humanitarian aid. I hope cooler heads prevail and a peaceful resolution can be found.
I’m curious to learn more about the reasons behind this Israeli police raid on the UNRWA compound. While maintaining security is important, forcibly entering a UN agency’s premises seems heavy-handed. I hope this incident can be resolved diplomatically.
This is a concerning development that warrants close attention. The UN must ensure that its agencies can operate without interference or intimidation, as this is essential for providing vital aid and services to vulnerable populations.
This is a concerning development. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees should be able to operate without interference from Israeli security forces. Violations of UNRWA’s privileges and immunities as a UN agency are troubling and need to be addressed.
This incident underscores the fragile situation in the region and the need for all parties to exercise restraint. While security concerns are understandable, the forceful entry into a UN compound is a serious escalation that could further inflame tensions.