Israel begins demolition of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Jerusalem headquarters in Jerusalem

Israeli authorities on Tuesday began demolishing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in Jerusalem, after a new law banning the organization’s operations in the country took effect.Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir hailed the move as a “historic day, a holiday, a very important day for governance,” saying the government was finally expelling “terror supporters … with everything they built here” and vowing that “this is what will be done to every terror supporter.”Yisrael Beiteinu Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky, who played a leading role in introducing the legislation, shared a “Shehecheyanu” prayer in an X post along with a video of the demolition.“The UNRWA terror headquarters on Ammunition Hill was evacuated this morning and is being demolished right now, just before the State of Israel enters the area.This is happening as a direct result of the laws I initiated to remove UNRWA from Israel.

And a redeemer shall come to Zion!” she wrote.Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said Israel owns the former UNRWA compound in Jerusalem where the Israel Land Authority is now operating, adding that UNRWA had already halted its activities there and withdrawn all personnel before legislation affecting the agency was passed in January 2025.“The compound does not enjoy any immunity and the seizure of this compound by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,” according to Marmorstein.“Today’s move does not constitute a new policy, but rather the implementation of existing Israeli legislation concerning UNRWA.”Marmorstein accused UNRWA staff of taking part in the Oct.

7, 2023 attacks and the kidnapping of Israelis, stating that many employees are members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and that the agency’s facilities and infrastructure have been used for tunnels, rocket fire and o...