January 21, 2026
Demolition of the UNRWA Headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah: An Israeli Step to Undermine International Protection for Refugees
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces storming the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday morning, 20 January 2026. The forces demolished mobile offices within the compound, lowered the UN agency’s flag, and raised the flag of the Israeli occupation in its place—conduct that constitutes a grave violation of the international legal immunity enjoyed by United Nations premises and personnel.
According to information collected by PCHR’s staff, at approximately 08:00 this morning, Israeli occupation forces, accompanied by three bulldozers and several vehicles belonging to the so-called Israel Land Authority, stormed the UNRWA headquarters—one of the United Nations’ premises—in Sheikh Jarrah. Members of the force removed the UNRWA flag flying atop the building and replaced it with the Israeli flag, in a clear expression of the seizure of the premises and the imposition of forced sovereignty over it. This was carried out alongside the demolition of mobile offices within the agency’s compound, in the presence of Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who led the raid. The scene reflects the official and systematic nature of the attack and confirms that it is not an isolated incident, but rather a state policy for which Israel bears full legal responsibility.
The Israeli assault on the UN premises comes as a systematic Israeli campaign against the organization. On 12 January 2026, Israeli forces stormed a UNRWA health centre in East Jerusalem and ordered its closure. The Israeli authorities have also decided to cut water and electricity supplies to UNRWA facilities—including health and educational buildings—in the coming weeks.
On 8 December 2025, Israeli police forces raided the organization’s headquarters in East Jerusalem, cut off communications inside the compound, confiscated furniture and information technology equipment, removed the UN flag, and raised the Israeli flag in its place.