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Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf: We're converting UNRWA complex into housing and public buildings

Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf gave a statement in front of the UNRWA building today explaining what happens next after UNRWA was banned from the country.

Minister Yizthak Goldknopf.
Screenshot of Minister Goldknopf's Spokesperson's footage.

Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf gave a video statement today (Monday) in front of the UNRWA complex in Jerusalem, explaining the government's efforts to take it over due to the law banning UNRWA operations in the country.

In his statement, Minister Goldknopf said that he arrived at the complex to see how the evacuation of the compound is proceeding and whether the government can move in and take it over.

As the building was locked, Goldknopf said they can't move in. As such, he said that he instructed his ministry and the Israel Land Authority to use all available legal means to take over the compound.

Goldknopf said that the area, which is in the area of Ammunition Hill, would then be converted into housing and also public buildings.

The minister then reiterated that per the law, the Israeli government will make sure that UNRWA no longer operates within the State of Israel.

The law banning UNRWA from operating within Israel or working with any government agency, including defense and security agencies, was passed at the end of October, at the initiative of Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky.

The Israeli government had long cooperated with UNRWA before the war despite reports of terrorist ties and abuse of the organization for terrorism.

However, emerging evidence that some workers at UNRWA participated in the October 7 massacre and that thousands of UNRWA employees and volunteers were formally affiliated with terrorist groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad changed Israel's attitude.

The discovery of UNRWA materials and the use of UNRWA buildings for terrorist purposes, including the holding of hostages there, led the Knesset to overwhelmingly vote to ban UNRWA from the country.

Multiple sponsoring countries complained about this decision, and the United Nations even requested an advisory opinion on the matter from the Hague, but Israel has stood firm on the matter.

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