Israel Begins Demolition of UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities have started demolishing the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem, days after laws banning the agency’s activities came into force. Police and Israel Land Authority officers arrived at the compound with bulldozers and engineering equipment, securing the site and beginning clearance operations. UNRWA condemned the move as an unprecedented attack on a United Nations facility, accusing Israel of openly defying international law and UN protections. The agency cited the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities, which designates UN premises as inviolable and immune from seizure or interference. Israel’s foreign ministry said the land belongs to the state and argued the compound no longer enjoys immunity, claiming UNRWA had already ceased operations there. Israeli officials again accused UNRWA of links to militant groups, allegations the agency has consistently denied. The demolition follows a series of laws passed since late 2024 banning UNRWA operations, cutting utilities to its properties and allowing the state to reclaim land in East Jerusalem. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the demolition as a “historic” step toward asserting Israeli control over Jerusalem. The UN secretary general condemned the action and urged Israel to immediately halt the demolition and restore the compound to UN control. The Palestinian Authority also denounced the move as a serious violation of international law and called on the UN and member states to intervene.