Israel seizes last UNRWA facility in East Jerusalem, agency says

JERUSALEM — Israeli forces stormed and seized a UNRWA vocational training center in the Qalandia refugee camp in northern East Jerusalem, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said. The Israeli government announced that the facility had been expropriated in line with its policy toward the United Nations and that management would be transferred to the Jerusalem municipality, which plans to build an education center on the site. Hundreds of Palestinian students were evacuated before Israeli authorities took control of the premises. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir raised an Israeli flag at the site after the takeover. UNRWA condemned the raid, stating that the facility is a United Nations property with immunity under international law. The agency called on the international community to intervene urgently to protect its remaining facilities and maintain services for Palestinian refugees. According to UNRWA, the center was the last UNRWA facility in East Jerusalem still under its operation.