Kathmandu— Israeli authorities are threatening the Qalandiya Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem, one of the oldest continuously operating educational institutions in the region, effectively barring Palestinians from accessing its services. Following a raid on Tuesday accompanied by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli forces expelled approximately 40 staff members and indicated plans to transfer control of the land to the Jerusalem municipality for development as an “educational complex.” The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) maintains that the center, which provides vocational training to roughly 340 Palestinian refugees annually, is protected under international law and serves a crucial role in providing skills and employment opportunities within the occupied West Bank.

History of Raids and Increasing Pressure

The Qalandiya Training Centre has been raided six times this year alone, but the recent incursion marked an escalation with Ben-Gvir’s presence. Footage obtained by Al Jazeera shows classrooms ransacked, doors smashed, and workshops abandoned following previous raids. UNRWA confirmed damage to the facility and reported attempts to steal its contents. Established in 1952 on land rented from Jordan, the center has provided vocational diplomas in sixteen specializations – including carpentry, telecommunications, and interior design – for over seven decades.

Impact on Palestinian Refugees

For many Palestinians, the Qalandiya Training Centre represents a pathway to employment and self-sufficiency. UNRWA reports that 90% of its graduates find jobs, a significant figure considering nearly one in three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are unemployed. Youssef Abu Latifeh, a 73-year-old refugee and 1974 graduate of the center, credits it with enabling him to secure work abroad and support his family. “If it wasn’t for the centre, I wouldn’t have finished my studies,” he told Al Jazeera. He fears that its closure will deprive future generations of this crucial opportunity.

Legal Dispute Over Land Ownership

Israeli authorities claim ownership of the land through the Jewish National Fund and assert their right to transfer it to the Jerusalem municipality. However, UNRWA maintains that the premises are protected by the privileges and immunities afforded to the United Nations under international law. The agency also emphasizes that as part of occupied Palestinian territory, Israel lacks sovereign jurisdiction over the land. This dispute follows Israel’s 1980 illegal annexation of East Jerusalem, which began following its occupation in 1967.

Broader Campaign Against UNRWA

The threat to the Qalandiya Training Centre is part of a wider pattern of escalating actions against UNRWA by Israeli authorities. In recent years, Israel’s Knesset has passed anti-UNRWA legislation and restricted visas for international staff. Earlier this year, six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem were forcibly closed, affecting approximately 800 children, and the agency’s headquarters was taken over and demolished. These actions coincide with a deep financial crisis facing UNRWA, exacerbated by Israel freezing funds following unsubstantiated allegations of ties to Hamas.

As of Friday midday, Israeli troops had withdrawn from the Qalandiya Training Centre, but monitoring continued via drone surveillance. UNRWA hopes to reopen the facility as soon as possible, despite ongoing threats and legal challenges.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.