Israel Moves to Confiscate UNRWA Lands in Jerusalem
The Israeli government has announced plans to confiscate land in occupied Jerusalem that houses the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This decision comes amid ongoing tensions and accusations against the agency, with the Israeli Army Radio reporting that the land will be repurposed for the construction of settlement units. According to the newspaper "Israel Hayom," the proposed project includes the construction of 1,440 housing units and is currently in the preparation stages.
The move has drawn significant international criticism, particularly from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who condemned the Israeli parliament's recent legislative actions aimed at curtailing UNRWA's operations. Last Sunday, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli Knesset approved two bills that seek to terminate the agency's activities and benefits within Israel. This has raised alarms in the international community, with members of the UN Security Council warning Israel against further actions that would hinder UNRWA's ability to provide assistance, especially in the Gaza Strip.
During a recent session, the United States also expressed concern over Israel's approach, urging the Israeli government to address the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and to refrain from exacerbating the suffering of its inhabitants by restricting aid delivery. This situation is further complicated by accusations from Israel, which claims that some UNRWA employees participated in the recent escalation of violence during Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa on October 7, 2023. However, these allegations remain unsubstantiated, and the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with over 300 aid workers, many of whom were UNRWA employees, reported killed in the ongoing conflict.
