Israel begins dismantling of banned UN organisation's Jerusalem headquarters
Tel Aviv, January 20
This morning, Israeli security forces arrived to evacuate and destroy the UNRWA headquarters on Ammunition Hill in northern Jerusalem. This is the central headquarters from which all of the organisation's activities in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem are managed, and within which UNRWA's main logistical infrastructure is concentrated.
Since the beginning of the war, UNRWA's ties with the terrorist organisation Hamas have been exposed, and it was discovered that some UNRWA operatives even took part in the October 7 massacre. In addition, numerous tunnels and terrorist infrastructures were found under buildings belonging to UNRWA in the Gaza Strip.
The measures against UNRWA began in late 2024 with Israel's decision to outlaw all of the organisation's activities within the country's borders.
In December 2025, the Knesset voted to disconnect UNRWA facilities from water and electricity.
Less than two weeks ago, Israeli forces arrived to evacuate the UNRWA facility in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The situation is so complex. On one hand, you can't have UN facilities being used for terror. On the other, what happens to the refugees who depend on them? It reminds me of how we have to be vigilant about aid being misused in our own region. Tough call, but security comes first. 🇮🇳
Strong action by Israel. If an organization's workers are involved in attacks, it loses all legitimacy. We've seen similar issues with some NGOs in Kashmir. The complete dismantling, including cutting water and power, sends a clear message. Hope the international community takes note.
While I understand the security concerns, the step-by-step process described—outlawing, cutting utilities, then physical demolition—feels very heavy-handed. There must be a way to root out bad actors without dismantling an entire humanitarian apparatus. The civilians caught in the middle are the ones who will suffer most.
The article mentions tunnels under UN buildings. That's shocking! It shows a deep level of infiltration. Israel is right to take control. In our context, we cannot allow any foreign organization to operate if it compromises our security. National security is non-negotiable, whether it's Israel or India.
It's a sad day when a UN agency falls to this level. Where was the oversight? The real tragedy is for the ordinary people who relied on UNRWA for schools and healthcare. I hope other agencies step in quickly to fill the void for those who are truly innocent in all this.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.