{"id":1005178,"date":"2026-08-16T21:24:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T21:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1005178\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T21:24:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T21:24:29","slug":"unrwa-alleges-israel-takeover-of-agency-buildings-in-east-jerusalem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1005178\/","title":{"rendered":"UNRWA alleges Israel takeover of agency buildings in East Jerusalem"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has claimed that Israel was taking over buildings it says belong to the agency in the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, which the Jerusalem Municipality denied.<\/p>\n

According to the UNRWA statement posted last week, and shared by its West Bank director Roland Friedrich on X, \u201cPersonnel associated with the Jerusalem Municipality have in recent days entered UNRWA facilities without authorization, including the school compound, health center, and community services office.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jerusalem Municipality rejected the allegation, telling The Times of Israel that \u201cthese are not UNRWA properties, but privately owned properties for which the municipality has signed a usage agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to the owners of these properties, UNRWA itself unlawfully took control of them and did not pay [rent] during this period. The municipality intends to open educational institutions at the site for the benefit of residents of the surrounding neighborhoods,\u201d the municipality said.<\/p>\n

However, the UNRWA charged in its statement that the premises were forcibly entered by breaking locks, and that contractors working on behalf of the municipality had begun carrying out work at the sites. The agency asserted that the moves violate international law protecting UNRWA property.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tGet The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
\n\t\t\tby email and never miss our top stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n

In late 2024, Israel passed legislation<\/a> banning UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem, alleging that the UN agency was riddled with Hamas terrorists and fomenting anti-Israel sentiment in its schools.<\/p>\n

Following the legislation, Israel shut down<\/a> UNRWA schools in the Shuafat refugee camp and other parts of East Jerusalem, leaving several hundred students without educational institutions.<\/p>\n

\n

????@UNRWA<\/a> warns of imminent takeover of its installations in Shu\u2019fat Camp, East Jerusalem.
#WestBank<\/a> #EastJerusalem<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/PkgmJHwNgx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Roland Friedrich (@GRFriedrich) August 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Israel has repeatedly alleged and shown evidence<\/a> that employees of the UN agency were actively involved in terror groups in the Gaza Strip, and some participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion and slaughter.\n<\/p>\n

In June, amid Israeli accusations that UN staffers were Hamas operatives, the UNRWA fired 70 Gaza employees<\/a> \u201cto mitigate safety and security risks for the refugees\u201d without mentioning the name of the terror group.<\/p>\n

Israel has also long accused\u00a0the agency\u2019s schools of inciting hatred of Israel and glorification of attacks against Israelis.<\/p>\n

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\tHelp us report truthfully on social media\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism<\/strong> produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform \u2014 from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.<\/p>\n

This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant<\/strong> on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible<\/strong> short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism<\/b>, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. <\/b>Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tSupport our work\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tSupport our work\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\tYou’re a dedicated reader\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re really pleased that you\u2019ve read X Times of Israel articles<\/strong> in the past month. \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we started the Times of Israel – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.<\/p>\n

So now we have a request.<\/strong> Unlike other news outlets, we haven\u2019t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE<\/strong>, as well as accessing exclusive content<\/strong> available only to Times of Israel Community members.<\/p>\n

Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a>
\n\t\t