Israel to seizes UNRWA HQ in East Jerusalem for illegal settlement plans

Israel has decided to confiscate the headquarters of the U.N. agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem to construct illegal settlement units, according to media reports.

The Israel Hayom newspaper reported that the entire UNRWA area in Ma’alot Dafna, Jerusalem, is planned for a housing project consisting of 1,440 units. The project is currently in the “preparatory stages.”

Meanwhile, UNRWA has not commented on the report.

Aryeh King, the far-right deputy mayor of Jerusalem, has repeatedly called for the establishment of thousands of illegal units to expand the Ma’alot Dafna settlement in recent months.

Israel ordered UNRWA to evacuate

Israeli authorities ordered UNRWA to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem on May 30, granting the agency 30 days to comply. This directive was issued under the pretext of UNRWA’s “failure to obtain approval” from the Israel Lands Authority to construct the facility on that land.

UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler stated at that time, “We learned about the decision through the media and did not receive any information directly from the Israeli authorities.”

He emphasized, “We are unequivocal about our stance. UNRWA has maintained a presence in this headquarters and another facility in East Jerusalem since the early 1950s.”

UNRWA labeled as ‘terrorist’ organization

In conjunction with the decision to confiscate the headquarters, the Israeli Knesset is preparing to vote on a bill that designates UNRWA as a “terrorist” organization, which would prevent it from operating in East Jerusalem.

Israel has been lobbying for the closure of UNRWA, which is the only UN agency specifically mandated to address the basic needs of Palestinian refugees.

Established by a U.N. resolution in 1949, UNRWA provides assistance and protection to refugees in its five areas of operation: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.