As Israel begins dismantling former UNRWA headquarters in Jerusalem, UN agency decries 'unprecedented attack’

Israeli authorities began the demolition of the former UNRWA compound on Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem on Tuesday, after the Knesset voted to ban UNRWA activities within Israeli territory in late 2024.

The UN agency in response released a statement, decrying the “unprecedented attack” against the compound. 

“This is an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” UNRWA said in a statement. 

The former UNRWA compound at Ammunition Hill had served as the headquarters for all its activities in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. 

Following Israel’s law banning UNRWA activity, the Israel Land Authority—backed by police—has seized the UNRWA compound in Jerusalem’s Ma’alot Dafna neighborhood.
The site is returning to state control and will be redeveloped for public use. pic.twitter.com/UXiSL3tZXx

— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) January 20, 2026

However, the Israeli government has long accused UNRWA of ties to the Hamas terror group, even releasing a list of UNRWA employees with known ties to Hamas during the Gaza War. 

While the organization has denied such claims, the IDF released lists of members of the Hamas military branch, demonstrating that several UNRWA employees were on the lists. It also released photos recovered from Hamas computers in Gaza showing some of the employees at Hamas events. The government also provided UNRWA a list of at least 12 employees who participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was present as the workers began demolition, called it “a historic day, a holiday, and a very important day for Jerusalem's governance."

"For years, these terror supporters were here, and today they are banished with everything they built.” 

On Tuesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry noted that the compound belongs to the State of Israel and that UNRWA had already ceased operations at the site.

“The State of Israel owns the Jerusalem compound in which the Israel Land Authority is operating today. Even prior to the passage of legislation in January 2025, UNRWA-Hamas had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there,” the ministry said in a statement.

“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 State of Israel owns the Jerusalem compound in which the Israel Land Authority is operating today. Even prior to the passage of legislation in January 2025, UNRWA had already ceased its operations at this site and no longer had any UN personnel or UN activity there. The… pic.twitter.com/lAWCb4DUza

— Oren Marmorstein (@OrenMarmorstein) January 20, 2026

The ministry also noted that the move “does not constitute a new policy, but rather the implementation of existing Israeli legislation concerning UNRWA-Hamas.” 

“UNRWA-Hamas has long ceased to be a humanitarian aid organization, serving instead as a greenhouse for terrorism,” it concluded. 

The ministry also re-released video footage showing an UNRWA employee participating in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel. 

On October 7, a @UNRWA social worker abducted the body of Israeli civilian Jonathan Samerano.

This was not an isolated act.
UNRWA has long ceased to be a humanitarian aid organization, serving instead as a greenhouse for Hamas terrorism.

UNRWA employees participated in the… pic.twitter.com/hFm5uv0kTF

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) January 20, 2026

The law that formally ended UNRWA’s activity in Israel was passed in October 2024 with overwhelming support, as 92 MKs voted in favor, while only 10 opposed. Last year, the Knesset passed an additional law, which ended all Israeli government cooperation with UNRWA, stripping the organization of diplomatic privileges and immunity. 

In December, Israel Police raided the UNRWA compound after the organization failed to vacate the premises, alleging that it owed taxes of NIS 11 million ($3.4 million) to the Jerusalem municipality. 

After taking office last January, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump supported Israel’s ban on UNRWA, reversing the position of the previous administration of Joe Biden.