Israel seizes UNRWA training center in East Jerusalem, sparks international outcry

Story Timeline
7 days · 4 summary articles
Israeli forces seized the UNRWA Qalandia Training Center in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, acting on orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to prevent the agency from operating in Israel. Over 50 armed security personnel and four vehicles entered the facility while 20 UNRWA staff were inside, according to the agency, which condemned the “unauthorized incursion” as a violation of its immunity under international law .
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the measures “completely unacceptable” and a breach of Israel’s obligations under the UN Charter and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations . Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated the site, claimed as property of the Jewish National Fund since 1937, would be repurposed into a boys’ school using the Israeli curriculum, with plans for additional schools, a mosque, and sports and health facilities for the local Arab community . UNRWA countered that Jordan ceded the land to the agency in 1952 for the training center, which has served Palestinian refugees for over seven decades .
The Palestinian Authority labeled the seizure a “serious violation of international law,” while Israeli officials described it as “renovation work” and cited UNRWA’s alleged ties to Hamas as justification for a parliamentary ban on the agency’s operations in Israel . In January, Israeli forces demolished UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters .
Separately, Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, destroyed a Palestinian memorial in the West Bank village of Madama under military escort, claiming it glorified terrorism. The Israeli military called the incident “serious” and said it had stopped the demolition, though it noted it routinely removes “symbols of incitement” in Palestinian areas .
In Gaza, mourners gathered in Khan Younis to mark one year since an Israeli double strike on Nasser Hospital killed 22 Palestinians, including journalist Mariam Abu Dagga. An investigation by *The Independent* and *Independent Arabia* found evidence suggesting the second strike may have constituted a war crime, citing eyewitness accounts, weapons experts, and Israeli whistleblowers. The Israeli military denied targeting journalists and claimed it had struck Hamas operatives .
The European Union urged Israel to curb “atrocious and inflammatory rhetoric” by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who had called for intensified attacks on Gaza and the construction of Jewish settlements there. The EU also reiterated its call for Israel to withdraw a tender for 1,200 housing units in the controversial E1 settlement project, warning it would undermine a two-state solution .
Follow us for live European news
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
3 further sources not geolocated












