Unrwa chief says Israel aims to make Palestinian refugee issue ‘go away'

Israeli security forces have taken control of a training college run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, closing it down permanently. The Qalandia Training Centre, which had been operating in the occupied territory, was targeted in the latest move threatening UNRWA. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the incursion, emphasizing that UN premises "are inviolable and immune from any form of interference."

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir played a key role in the raid, releasing footage of himself in the director's chair. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the evacuation, blaming UNRWA for its involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel, a claim UNRWA strongly denies. Established in 1952, the training centre taught around 340 Palestinians annually in skills like carpentry, car mechanics, and plumbing.

The site, located in East Jerusalem behind Israel's separation barrier, was accessible to refugee camp youths. UNRWA expelled its staff and plans to remove equipment while transforming part of the site into a school. In response, UNRWA unequivocally condemned the unauthorized and deeply concerning incursion, stating that "the entry of armed security forces into a United Nations facility, without the authorisation or consent of the United Nations, is unacceptable."