Israeli police forcibly entered the East Jerusalem compound of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees early Monday, escalating Israel’s campaign against an organisation already banned from operating on its territory.
The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said in a statement that “sizeable numbers” of Israeli forces, including motorcycle units, trucks and forklifts, entered its Sheikh Jarrah compound and cut its communications. The agency called the move an “unauthorized and forceful entry” and described it as a violation of its U.N.-granted privileges and immunities.
Photos taken by an AP photographer showed police vehicles outside the facility and an Israeli flag placed on the roof. Images shared by UNRWA staff showed Israeli officers inside the compound. Police said the entry was part of a “debt-collection procedure” led by the Jerusalem municipality, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The raid is the latest step in Israel’s push against UNRWA, which provides aid and services to about 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with 3 million more in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Established after the 1948 war to support Palestinians forced from their homes, the agency has long been politically contentious. UNRWA’s supporters say Israel wants to erase the refugee issue by dismantling the agency, while Israel argues the refugees should be permanently resettled elsewhere.
During the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, UNRWA served as Gaza’s main humanitarian lifeline amid widespread destruction and strict Israeli restrictions on goods entering the territory. Israel has accused the agency of being infiltrated by Hamas, allegations the U.N. denies. After months of criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right allies, Israel formally banned UNRWA in January. The U.S., once its largest donor, halted funding in early 2024.
UNRWA says it has struggled to continue working in Gaza, even as other U.N. agencies such as WFP and UNICEF try to fill what the agency calls an unfillable gap. Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s communications chief, said at the Doha Forum on Saturday that the agency has also been excluded from U.S.-led talks on Phase 2 of the ceasefire.
The Jerusalem compound had already been closed since May after far-right protesters, including at least one Israeli lawmaker, pushed through its gate in front of police. Members of Israel’s far-right have urged the government to turn the compound into a settlement, and the housing minister said last year he had instructed officials to explore reclaiming the land for state use and housing development.