Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Israel’s cabinet approved a plan on Sunday to build a military compound, including a museum, on the site of the recently demolished premises of UNRWA in occupied Jerusalem.
In a joint statement, the Israeli Defence Ministry and Jerusalem Municipality said the new compound would include the establishment of a military museum, a recruitment office and a defense minister's office.
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In January, Israel demolished structures inside the UN Palestinian refugee agency's East Jerusalem compound after seizing the site last year, in an act condemned by the agency as a violation of international law.
“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,” it said at that time.
An Israeli flag was seen hoisted above the facility in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, where some Israeli officials arrived on the scene to celebrate the demolition. Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called it “a historic day”.
UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, which the UN and most countries consider territory occupied by Israel as it was captured from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war.
Founded in 1949, UNRWA's mandate is to provide aid and services to 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as 3 million more refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. The group has for years maintained infrastructure in refugee camps, run schools and provided healthcare.
"There is nothing more symbolic or justified than establishing the new IDF recruitment office and defence establishment institutions precisely on the ruins of the former UNRWA compound,” Katz said.
Israel has repeatedly attacked UNRWA for what it terms pro-Palestinian leanings and claimed that the body has ties to Hamas, without providing any evidence, which the UN agency has vehemently denied.
UNRWA former chief Philippe Lazzarini said Israel conducted "a large-scale disinformation campaign" against it. He also said the January attack on the UNRWA buildings came “in the wake of other steps taken by Israeli authorities to erase the Palestine Refugee identity”.
Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and prohibiting Israeli officials from having contact with the agency.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he could take Israel to the International Court of Justice if it does not repeal laws targeting UNRWA and return its seized assets and property.
In a January 8 letter to Netanyahu, Guterres said the UN cannot remain indifferent to “actions taken by Israel, which are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law. They must be reversed without delay.”
