{
  "id": 5322425,
  "title": "Why are we determined to remove UNRWA from Jerusalem? - opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/why-are-we-determined-to-remove-unrwa-from-jerusalem-opinion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T12:16:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-907350"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The actions of Israeli security forces at the former UNRWA compound in Jerusalem were met with outrage from key international figures. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres publicly expressed his disapproval, as did foreign ministers from Europe. However, the situation was not a matter of choice for Israel, but rather a necessary step.\n\nIsrael's actions were driven by the belief that UNRWA had become an arm of the terrorist organization Hamas. Evidence pointed to UNRWA employees participating in the October 7 massacre, using agency facilities to store weapons, and teaching anti-Israel propaganda. The agency had not only failed to resolve the Palestinian refugee issue but had exacerbated it through decades of instilling hatred against Israel in Palestinian schools.\n\nIn 2024, the Knesset passed legislation prohibiting UNRWA from operating within Israel, and Israeli authorities acted decisively in every UNRWA facility in Jerusalem. This came after the termination of the Comay-Michelmore Agreement in January 2025, which stripped UNRWA of any legal authority to operate in Jerusalem.\n\nWhile the UN has acknowledged the failures within UNRWA and dismissed 70 employees involved in terrorist activities, Israel is looking towards the future. The Jerusalem Municipality plans to transform the building into a new school for east Jerusalem, moving away from a facility associated with extremism and towards an institution focused on providing quality education for children in the neighborhood.",
  "summary": "It has become increasingly clear that the UN agency established to assist Palestinian refugees functioned, in practice, as an active arm of the Hamas terrorist organization.",
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli security forces removed UNRWA compound in Jerusalem.",
    "UN Secretary-General and European foreign ministers condemned actions.",
    "Israel justified removal as UNRWA becoming Hamas' arm."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}