Kathmandu— Israeli forces raided the Qalandiya Training Centre, operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, prompting condemnation from Qatar and raising concerns about Israel’s intentions regarding Palestinian refugee rights and territorial expansion in the West Bank. Led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday, the raid was justified under recent legislation banning UNRWA, but experts suggest it is a pivotal step towards dismantling international protections for refugees and accelerating annexation plans. The operation targets a strategically important area adjacent to a historic airport, with ambitions to construct over 9,000 settlement units and establish a “Greater Jerusalem” project that would significantly reduce the size of the West Bank.

Strategic Annexation Plans

Israeli affairs expert Adel Shadid explained that the raid is linked to broader territorial ambitions centered around the historic Qalandiya Airport. He stated the occupation aims to gain complete control over the airport, establishing a massive settlement comprising over 9,000 units alongside a Jewish heritage center and erasing Jordanian landmarks. “By controlling these two areas and annexing them to the occupation municipality, the pillars of the ‘Greater Jerusalem’ project are completed,” Shadid said, adding that this expansion could carve out 12 to 13 percent of the total area of the West Bank. Retired Lebanese Brigadier General Elias Hanna echoed this assessment, pointing to Israel’s strategy of encircling Palestinian urban centers and controlling geographical continuity between areas.

Erosion of Refugee Rights

UNRWA media adviser Adnan Abu Hasna described the raid as an unprecedented violation of international law and UN mandates. He noted that UNRWA received no prior notification of the Israeli government’s actions, marking a dangerous escalation against humanitarian principles. “There is an agreement signed between UNRWA and Israel… providing for facilitating UNRWA’s operations and protecting its facilities,” Abu Hasna said, lamenting that this protection has now ended. He also highlighted the agency's ongoing financial crisis, exacerbated by funding cuts from countries like the United States, including a $360 million reduction following decisions made during the Trump administration.

Settler-Military Convergence

Israeli affairs specialist Anas Abu Arqoub emphasized the growing alignment between Israeli state forces and armed settlers. He described a “division of roles accompanied by a complete integration,” with settler groups functioning as organized military units, often equipped with weapons from the Israeli army and undergoing joint training. Abu Arqoub noted that research institutions like the Institute for National Security Studies have warned about the potential for these groups to carry out ethnic cleansing in the West Bank under the guise of “loss of control.”

International Impunity and US Role

Birzeit University political science Professor Ghassan Khatib attributed Israel’s actions to a lack of international accountability, particularly from the United States. He stressed that Washington is the primary sponsor of what he described as Israeli defiance of international laws and violations of Palestinian rights. “There is a direct correlation between the rising pace of Israeli violations and the reascent of [President Donald] Trump to the leadership of the United States,” Khatib observed, warning that settler militias have become an integral part of the occupation system.

Local Community Response

Mohammed Saeed, public relations director for the Qalandiya refugee camp’s popular committee, described the raid as a message of defiance. “The Israeli incursion was a clear message of defiance stating: ‘We are the owners of the land, and we decide its fate,'” he said.

The situation remains tense as Israel continues to pursue policies that Palestinians and international observers fear will further entrench occupation and undermine prospects for a two-state solution.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.