Thursday, January 22, 2026- Israeli forces have taken dramatic and highly controversial action against United Nations facilities serving Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem, marking a serious escalation around humanitarian operations in the city.
Bulldozers accompanied by Israeli personnel moved into the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and began demolishing structures at the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Tear gas was also deployed at a vocational school in Qalandia, disrupting programs for hundreds of young refugees. The compound, previously unused after Israeli orders, saw security removed and equipment confiscated before buildings were razed.
International reaction was swift and sharply critical. The United Nations condemned the demolitions as unacceptable and called for the facilities to be returned to UN control, stressing that UN properties are protected under international law.
UNRWA described the actions as an unprecedented attack on humanitarian operations, warning that they threaten aid delivery and set a dangerous precedent. Israeli authorities defended the move under domestic legislation banning UNRWA operations and repeated allegations against the agency, which UNRWA firmly denies.
The consequences for Palestinian refugees are immediate and severe. UNRWA provides essential services including education, vocational training, and health care, and the loss of key facilities in East Jerusalem further weakens an already strained support system.
With pressure mounting across Gaza and the West Bank, humanitarian groups and global officials are calling for urgent diplomatic action to protect aid operations and prevent further disruption to services relied upon by vulnerable communities.
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