**Israeli Forces Raid UNRWA Training Centre in Occupied East Jerusalem**
On August 25, 2026, Israeli forces conducted a significant raid on the Qalandiya Training Centre, a facility operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), located in Kafr Aqab, a neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. This operation follows a series of recent actions against UNRWA facilities in the region.
Prior to the raid, Israeli forces closed the nearby Qalandiya checkpoint, deploying heavy military presence throughout the surrounding areas, including the adjacent Qalandiya refugee camp. Reports indicate that troops forcibly removed all UNRWA employees from the training center, instructing them not to return, and began evacuating the complex.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was present during the raid and publicly supported the operation. He stated that authorities had initiated an “operation to evacuate the building” and claimed, “there is no place for the agency in Jerusalem and Israel.” Following the raid, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans to convert the site into a new educational and community complex intended to serve the local Palestinian population. The proposed facilities include additional schools, a mosque, sports grounds, and health centers.
Israeli officials justified the takeover by asserting that the land had been owned by the Jewish National Fund since 1937 and was allocated to the Jerusalem Municipality for development. They argued that UNRWA had occupied the land unlawfully for decades. The Israeli Foreign Ministry referenced anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Knesset in October 2024, which prohibits the agency's activities within Israel, as a basis for the operation.
In contrast, UNRWA has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that the Qalandiya Training Centre is a UN facility protected under international law. The agency plays a crucial role in providing essential services to Palestinian refugees, and reports indicate that the center serves approximately 16,000 refugees from the Qalandiya camp and surrounding areas.
Journalist Sarah Abu Alrob, reporting from Ramallah, noted the severe humanitarian implications of the Israeli government's actions. She highlighted that this raid follows a similar operation earlier in the year when Israeli forces raided the UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, resulting in the evacuation and partial demolition of the building.
Abu Alrob characterized the raid as part of a broader campaign by the Israeli government aimed at dismantling UNRWA, which provides vital educational, medical, and social services to Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank. Human rights advocates and legal experts have condemned the actions taken by Israeli forces, arguing that they constitute a violation of international law.
Mohammad Dahleh, a lawyer and human rights advocate based in East Jerusalem, described the takeover as a direct infringement of international legal standards. He emphasized that the actions taken by Israel disregard the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which ruled on the legal status of such actions in December 2025. “Israel doesn’t care about international law, doesn’t care about the ruling or the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, or about the criticism that many countries have against these actions, especially in a period where Palestinian refugees are so vulnerable,” Dahleh stated.
He further underscored the importance of UNRWA's services during the ongoing crisis, noting that Palestinian refugees are in urgent need of the assistance provided by the agency, particularly in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
The raid on the Qalandiya Training Centre has sparked widespread concern among humanitarian organizations and advocates for Palestinian rights, who fear that such actions will exacerbate the already dire conditions faced by Palestinian refugees. As tensions continue to rise in the region, the future of UNRWA and its ability to operate effectively remains uncertain amid ongoing Israeli government initiatives aimed at curtailing its presence.