Israeli occupation forces and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday stormed the closed headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and demolished structures there.
Local sources reportedly said that “an Israeli army force, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the agency’s compound after sealing off the surrounding streets and intensifying its military presence in the area, and proceeded to demolish structures inside the compound,” according to WAFA.
Israeli occupation authorities continue their destruction of the UNRWA's main headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem.#GazaGenocide#HappyNewYear#HappyNewYear2025#gazacrimes#europe #Gaza #Palestine#Israeliwarcrimes #غزة pic.twitter.com/kU1X7bIo6G
— Palestine Info Center (@palinfoen) January 20, 2026
The sources added that forces raised the Israeli flag inside the UNRWA headquarters simultaneously while carrying out the demolition operation.
Breaking | Hard-right Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, oversees the destruction of UNRWA facilities in occupied Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/f9D6lIoX7z
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 20, 2026
Israeli foreign ministry described the UN agency as “UNRWA-Hamas”, saying it “had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there.”
“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,” the Israeli ministry said in a statement.
Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants, claiming that some of its employees took part in the group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.
Source: Palestinian media (edited and translated by Al-Manar)