Israeli forces raided and seized the Qalandiya Training Centre in East Jerusalem’s Kafr Aqab neighbourhood on Tuesday, according to statements from UN agency officials. The operation resulted in the expulsion of UNRWA employees and orders preventing their return to the facility. Five Palestinians sustained injuries from Israeli gunfire near the site, as reported by the Jerusalem governorate.
UNRWA acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders characterized the seizure as a violation of UN premises and part of a broader effort to undermine the agency. He stated that approximately 340 young Palestinians would lose access to education and vocational training as a result of the takeover. The facility serves roughly 16,000 refugees from the Qalandiya refugee camp and surrounding areas of the occupied West Bank. Saunders emphasized that the centre provides critical services to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds seeking opportunities for dignified livelihoods.
Israeli authorities defended the action, citing ownership claims by the Jewish National Fund and referencing legislation passed in October 2024 that restricts UNRWA operations. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir participated in the raid and stated there is no place for the agency in Jerusalem and Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the evacuation as lawful. The raid followed closure of the nearby Qalandiya checkpoint and increased Israeli military presence in the area.
Saunders alleged that efforts to defund and eliminate UNRWA are connected to eliminating Palestinian refugee rights, including issues of return, reparations, and compensation. He noted that UNRWA’s mandate derives from the United Nations General Assembly and the organization will continue operating until the Assembly decides otherwise or a political resolution emerges. However, Saunders acknowledged limitations in the UN’s capacity to prevent further incursions without coordinated action from member states, observing that collective determination from nations has been lacking for over seven decades.
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