‘Barbaric new era’: Palestinians, UN slam Israeli demolition of UNRWA HQ

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by Mohammad MansourJanuary 21, 2026 at 12:12 PM

AI Summary

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On January 20, 2026, Israeli authorities demolished a compound serving as the headquarters for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. The demolition, led by Israeli forces and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, was condemned by the UN and Palestinian leaders as a violation of international law. UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini stated the agency has leased the land from Jordan since 1952 and rejected Israel's justification for the seizure. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited a 2024 law banning UNRWA as the reason for the demolition. UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide aid to Palestinian refugees.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Gaza Strip 30% Government of Jordan 40% Ministry of Foreign Affairs 40% Sheikh Jarrah 50% Itamar Ben-Gvir ×260% Palestinians ×360% Philippe Lazzarini ×470% UN ×370% East Jerusalem ×480% Israel ×480% UNRWA ×1090%

Keywords

unrwa 100% israeli demolition 90% occupied east jerusalem 80% palestinian refugees 80% international law 70% united nations 60% sheikh jarrah 50% nakba 40%