Israeli crews begin bulldozing UNRWA headquarters in east Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli crews have begun bulldozing a United Nations headquarters in east Jerusalem as Israel’s government tightens restrictions on humanitarian groups that provide aid to Palestinians.

UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said on X that Israeli forces had confiscated staff devices and forced them out of their headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

“This is an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” it said.

Israel has long decried UNRWA for what it said is pro-Palestinian leanings and accused the group of ties to Hamas — which the U.N. agency has ardently denied.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the demolition was following through on a new law that banned the organization, accusing it of ties to militant groups and Hamas.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement that he had accompanied crews to the headquarters and called it a “historic day.”