Israel approved construction of a new military complex at a site in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied East Jerusalem, where UNRWA previously had its headquarters. The former UNRWA compound provided humanitarian services including health care and education for Palestinian refugees. The planned complex includes a military induction center, an office for the defense minister, and a military museum. In December 2025, Israeli forces entered the UNRWA compound, removed the UN flag, and raised the Israeli flag. In January 2026, Israeli bulldozers demolished the UNRWA headquarters. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the action, stating the premises remain United Nations property and are inviolable. UNRWA used the compound from 1952 through 2024, while staff faced repeated obstruction, threats, arson attacks, and harassment. In October 2024, Israel passed legislation prohibiting UNRWA operations inside Israel, interpreted by the Israeli government to include occupied East Jerusalem.
"Israel has approved the construction of a new military complex at a site that formerly hosted the UNRWA headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem - a site it demolished in January. The Israeli military complex will be built at the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) compound in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied East Jerusalem, which previously provided humanitarian services like health care and education to Palestinian refugees. The new complex will include a military induction center, an office for the defense minister, and a military museum."
"In December 2025, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led forces into the UNRWA compound, removed the UN flag, and raised the Israeli flag over the main building. Israel then bulldozed the headquarters of the UN agency in January. At the time, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the action, saying the site "remains United Nations premises and is inviolable.""
"The compound first became UNRWA's East Jerusalem headquarters in 1952, and was used by the UN agency through 2024. After October 7, 2023, Israeli settlers and right-wing activists protested in front of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, and its staff faced repeated obstruction, threats, arson attacks, and harassment by Israeli settlers and authorities alike. In October 2024, Israel's parliament passed legislation prohibiting UNRWA operations inside Israel - which the Israeli government interprets to include occupied East Jerusalem."
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