Israeli authorities have intensified their campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem. Actions taken include the closure of a health center affiliated with the agency in the Shuafat refugee camp.
Aryeh King, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, stated, “Another UNRWA institution in Jerusalem has been closed.” He added in a post on his Facebook account, accompanied by a photo of the health center in the Shuafat camp north of Jerusalem, “This time in the Shuafat refugee camp.”
This action follows the Israeli authorities’ announcement on Tuesday regarding the seizure of UNRWA’s headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. This occurred concurrently with the commencement of demolition operations within the premises, which the agency has utilized since 1952.
Israel has steadily escalated its measures against the agency since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023. The Israeli government has launched media and political campaigns against UNRWA, accusing some of its employees of affiliation with Hamas. These accusations have prompted ministers and Knesset members to call for a re-evaluation of the agency’s role, alleging that it undermines Israel’s security.
In October 2024, the Knesset approved a law prohibiting UNRWA from operating and preventing Israeli authorities from communicating with it. This was followed by another law at the end of December mandating the disconnection of electricity and water services to properties occupied by the agency. The Israeli government forced the agency to evacuate its headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in early 2025.
Earlier this month, Israeli authorities closed a clinic affiliated with the UN agency in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem for a month.
DZWatch will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds. This is a developing story.
