Israeli forces raid UNRWA training centre in occupied East Jerusalem

Israeli forces raided and seized the Qalandiya Training Centre, a key facility operated by the UNRWA, in the town of Kafr Aqab.Israeli forces have raided the Qalandiya Training Centre, a key facility operated by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the town of Kafr Aqab in occupied East Jerusalem.Before the raid on Tuesday, Israeli forces closed the nearby Qalandiya checkpoint. Heavy military deployments spread throughout the surrounding neighbourhoods and the adjacent Qalandiya refugee camp. Troops forcibly expelled all UNRWA employees from the site, telling them not to return, and initiated operations to evacuate the complex.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Palestinian factions explore broad alliance for November electionslist 2 of 3Who was Hind Rajab and why is Israel investigating her killing?list 3 of 3Over 100 ex-diplomats urge France, UK to sanction Israel over Palestineend of listFar-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir participated in the raid. Speaking from the site, Ben-Gvir praised the operation, stating that authorities had begun an “operation to evacuate the building” and asserting that “there is no place for the agency in Jerusalem and Israel.”Following the raid, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Jerusalem Municipality had already commenced work to transform the property into a new educational and community complex.The ministry claimed the project would serve thousands of Palestinian residents in Kafr Aqab, with planned facilities including additional schools, a mosque, sports grounds, and health centres.Israeli officials alleged that the site had been owned by the Jewish National Fund since 1937 and had been allocated to the Jerusalem Municipality for the project, arguing that UNRWA had fenced off the land for decades without legal ownership rights. The Foreign Ministry directly cited anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset in October 2024, banning the agency’s activities in Israel, to justify the takeover.