Kathmandu— Israeli forces 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 on Tuesday. The raid involved closing the nearby Qalandiya checkpoint, deploying heavy military presence, forcibly expelling UNRWA employees, and initiating evacuation operations. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir participated in the operation, praising it as a step towards removing the agency from Jerusalem and Israel, while officials announced plans to transform the property into an educational and community complex.

Claims of Ownership and Legal Justification

Israeli officials allege that the site has been owned by the Jewish National Fund since 1937 and was allocated to the Jerusalem Municipality for development. They claim UNRWA had fenced off the land without legal ownership rights, citing anti-UNRWA legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset in October 2024 as justification for the takeover. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a new educational and community complex will be built on the site to serve thousands of Palestinian residents in Kafr Aqab, including schools, a mosque, sports grounds, and health centres.

UNRWA Rejects Allegations

UNRWA firmly rejects Israel’s claims of ownership, maintaining that the Qalandiya Training Centre is a UN facility protected under international law. Journalist Sarah Abu Alrob, reporting from Ramallah, highlighted the centre's importance in providing vital services to 16,000 Palestinian refugees in the Qalandiya refugee camp and across the occupied West Bank. She noted this raid follows a similar operation months prior at UNRWA headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah, where premises were evacuated and partially demolished.

Condemnation from Advocates and Legal Experts

Human rights advocates and legal experts have condemned the Israeli action as a breach of international law. Mohammad Dahleh, a lawyer and human rights advocate from occupied East Jerusalem, described the takeover as a violation of both international law and an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in December 2025. He stated that Israel disregards international rulings and criticism, particularly given the vulnerability of Palestinian refugees. Dahleh emphasized UNRWA’s critical role in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Broader Campaign Against UNRWA

According to Abu Alrob, this raid is part of a larger campaign by the Israeli government aimed at dismantling UNRWA, an organization that provides essential educational, medical, and social services to Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank.

The future of the Qalandiya Training Centre remains uncertain as Israel proceeds with plans for redevelopment, while UNRWA maintains its claim to the property and advocates condemn the action as a violation of international law.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.