In a significant move enforcing the ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the Israel Land Authority (ILA), backed by police forces, seized control of the UNRWA headquarters in Jerusalem's Ma'alot Dafna neighborhood on Tuesday. Authorities announced that the prime real estate will now "return to state management and serve the public."
The operation targeted a sprawling complex covering approximately 46 dunams (roughly 11 acres). According to the ILA, the eviction was carried out under the authority of the law passed by the Knesset in 2024, which mandated the cessation of UNRWA's activities within Israeli territory.
While the ILA noted that UNRWA's official operations at the site had ceased about a year ago, the agency stated that "the compound remained occupied by squatters and local elements residing there unlawfully."
"Today's enforcement action puts an end to the illegal possession of the property," the ILA statement read. The land is now slated for re-planning and marketing for public use.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arrived at the scene to oversee the eviction, hailing the move as a major victory for Israeli governance in the capital.
"This is a historic day, a holiday, and a very important day for governance in Jerusalem," Ben Gvir declared. "For years, these terror supporters were here, and today they are being removed along with everything they built."
