Israel reinforces seized UNRWA center in occupied East Jerusalem

Israeli forces reinforced their presence overnight at the UNRWA Qalandia Vocational Training Center in occupied East Jerusalem, rotating soldiers and bolstering deployments inside the institute after seizing the compound Tuesday, the Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement on Wednesday. The Jerusalem municipality sent technical crews into the compound to begin "maintenance and renovation" work as part of plans to establish a municipal educational complex at the site.

Seizure operation and minister's declaration

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir participated in Tuesday's seizure operation and declared there was "no place for the agency in Jerusalem and Israel," according to Anadolu Agency. Israeli forces evacuated staff from the facility Tuesday, raised the Israeli flag in the courtyard and deployed troops around Qalandia refugee camp and Kafr Aqab, conducting raids and field interrogations of Palestinians.

Facility background and legal status

UNRWA had warned for months of an Israeli plan targeting the Qalandia center, noting the facility — established in 1952 as the agency's first center in Palestine — provides vocational training to hundreds of Palestinian students and that implementing the municipal plan would require demolishing most of the existing structure. The institute served approximately 270 students across 16 vocational specialties and graduates between 250 and 300 students annually.

The seizure drew immediate condemnation from Palestinian and international officials, with UNRWA stating Israeli forces forcibly entered the facility Tuesday despite the center's location in occupied East Jerusalem and its protection under UN privileges and immunities. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognized by most of the international community.