Israeli Crews Bulldoze UN Headquarters 01/20 06:06

   

   JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli crews on Tuesday started bulldozing the Jerusalem 
headquarters of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, pushing forward with 
its crackdown against an organization tasked with delivering humanitarian 
services to millions of people across the region.

   Israel has long accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency of 
collaborating with Hamas -- a charge it denies -- and last year banned it from 
operating on its territory. But Tuesday's demolition marked Israel's latest and 
most dramatic step against UNRWA.

   Roland Friedrich, the group's West Bank director, said UNRWA had received 
word that demolition crews and police arrived at their east Jerusalem 
headquarters early in the morning. Staff has not operated out of the facility 
due to danger and incitement for almost a year, but Israeli forces confiscated 
devices and forced out the private security hired to guard the facility.

   "What we saw today is is the culmination of two years of incitement and, 
measures against UNRWA in east Jerusalem," Friedrich said, calling it a 
violation of international law guaranteeing such facilities protection.

   UNRWA's mandate is to provide aid and services to some 2.5 million 
Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, as 
well as 3 million more refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. The group has for 
years maintained infrastructure in refugee camps and also run schools and 
provide health care. But its operations were curtailed last year when Israel's 
Knesset passed legislation severing ties and banning it from functioning in 
what it defines as Israel -- including east Jerusalem.

   The agency said the demolitions could imperil operations at its vocational 
center in Qalandia and heath facility in Shua'fat, where it continues to 
provide education and health services.

   An Israeli flag was seen hoisted above the facility in the Sheikh Jarrah 
neighborhood, where some Israeli politicians arrived on the scene to celebrate 
the organization's fate. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called it 
"a historic day."

   The demolition marked the culmination of years of criticism from Israel and 
its leaders, who contend that UNRWA harbors pro-Palestinian leanings and 
maintains ties or employees members of militant groups like Hamas. Since the 
start of the Israel-Hamas war more than two years ago, it has ramped up such 
attacks, accusing UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas and saying the militants 
used its facilities and seized aid. It has provided little evidence for the 
claims, which the U.N. has denied. The International Court of Justice said in 
October that Israel must allow the agency to provide humanitarian assistance in 
Gaza.

   Since Israel passed the law banning the agency last year, its facilities -- 
schools and health centers -- and its headquarters have repeatedly been closed, 
raided or left unprotected. Israel has contended the agency perpetuates 
Palestinians' refugee status, while UNRWA supporters have said Israel's attacks 
on the agency are aimed at sidelining the issue -- one of the most contentious 
dividing Israelis and Palestinians.

   "This comes in the wake of other steps taken by Israeli authorities to erase 
the Palestine Refugee identity," Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's 
commissioner-general, said in a statement on X. "This must be a wake-up call. 
What happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international 
organisation or diplomatic mission, whether in the Occupied Palestinian 
Territory or anywhere around the world."

   Under President Donald Trump, the United States cut funding for the agency 
in 2018. President Joe Biden restored it in 2021 and later paused funding in 
2024.

   Israel's ban on UNRWA dovetailed with broader efforts to deregister aid 
groups operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Israel has passed laws 
requiring nongovernmental organizations not hire staff involved in activities 
that "delegitimize Israel" or support boycotts, demanding they register lists 
of names as a condition of being allowed to work.

   Israel told dozens of groups -- including Doctors Without Borders and CARE 
-- that their licenses would expire at the end of 2025. The organizations say 
the rules are arbitrary and warned that the new ban would harm a civilian 
population desperately in need of humanitarian aid.