Ankara: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has urged the international community to take 'immediate and decisive' action to protect its Qalandia Training Center, located north of Jerusalem, following a raid conducted by Israeli security forces. The incident marks a significant breach of UNRWA's operational sanctity in the region.
According to Anadolu Agency, the raid occurred on Tuesday morning when Israeli Security Forces forcibly entered the center situated in occupied East Jerusalem. The UNRWA statement detailed that the incursion involved at least four armored vehicles and over 50 Israeli security personnel. At the time of the event, approximately 20 UNRWA staff members were present on the premises.
The agency condemned the entry of armed security forces into a United Nations facility without prior authorization or consent, branding such actions as unacceptable. The heightened tensions in the area were further exacerbated earlier in the day when the Israeli army conducted raids in the village of Kafr Aqab and the Qalandia refugee camp, prompting the evacuation of UNRWA staff from the training center.
In a move that has drawn widespread criticism, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly praised the raid and even shared a photograph of himself at the center's entrance, boasting about the operation. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the operation was executed following his direct orders, in defiance of established UN protections and international warnings.
The controversial raid followed a visit by representatives from 49 diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Palestine, who were at the center the previous day to evaluate the conditions faced by refugees and the impact of Israeli restrictions on UNRWA's operations.
Netanyahu's government, under pressure from its far-right constituency, appears to be leveraging such actions to consolidate political support domestically, according to political observers. The Prime Minister insisted that the evacuation aligned with his directive and underscored his government's stance against UNRWA's activities in the region, declaring an intent to counter the agency by all available means.
Despite these assertions, UNRWA has maintained that its facilities, including the Qalandia center, are protected under international law by UN privileges and immunities. The Qalandia Training Center, established in 1952, is noted for providing technical and vocational training to around 340 young Palestinian refugees annually.
This incident is reminiscent of past tensions, notably when Israel shuttered UNRWA's main headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem at the start of 2025, subsequently seizing control over the facility. Established in 1949, UNRWA's mandate encompasses providing assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees across multiple regions, including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.