Israel takes control of UN complex in East Jerusalem
In a move that has sparked strong international controversy, Israeli security forces took control this Tuesday of the facilities at the Qalandia Training Center, a site belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) located in East Jerusalem. According to Israeli authorities, the space will be used for the construction of educational infrastructure for the local community.
The operation, which involved the presence of more than 50 personnel and the deployment of armored vehicles, occurred while 20 humanitarian organization workers were inside the facilities. UNRWA described this act as an unauthorized incursion and a direct violation of the immunity that protects United Nations premises under international law.
Conflicting positions on sovereignty and land use
The Government of Israel maintains that the intervention is a necessary step to recover land that, according to its records, has belonged to the Jewish National Fund since 1937. The Israeli Foreign Ministry argued that the agency has occupied the area for decades without having legitimate property rights, preventing the development of essential services for the residents.
The entry of armed security forces into a United Nations facility, without the authorization or consent of the UN, is unacceptable.
Official UNRWA statement
For its part, UNRWA defends its presence in the location based on a land lease agreement made by the Jordanian Government in 1952, when that administration had jurisdiction over the area. This center has operated as the agency’s oldest vocational training institution, providing support to Palestinian refugees for more than 70 years.
Political tensions and legal measures
The action was supported by radical sectors of the Israeli government, who link this measure to the accusations against agency employees for their alleged participation in the events of October 7, 2023. In this regard, Finance Minister Itamar Ben Gvir emphasized that these measures are part of a firm policy to reaffirm Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem.
- The Israeli Parliament previously passed a law stripping UNRWA of its diplomatic immunity.
- An investment of approximately 11.5 million euros is planned to build schools, sports facilities, and a mosque on the premises.
- The International Court of Justice concluded in October 2025 that Israel has not presented sufficient evidence linking the organization to armed groups.
This eviction adds to the demolition of the agency’s main headquarters in East Jerusalem, which took place last January, consolidating a pressure strategy by Israel that continues to be a focus of criticism by international bodies and the UN.
