Israel Seizes UN Training Centre for Palestinian Teenagers in East Jerusalem

Israeli forces have seized the last remaining facility operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in occupied East Jerusalem, forcing dozens of staff members to leave.

The raid targeted the Qalandiya Vocational Training Institute in Kafr Aqab and was led by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Around 40 employees were reportedly questioned before being ordered to leave the 8.8-hectare campus. Israeli forces then raised the Israeli flag at the facility.

The centre had provided free vocational education to Palestinian refugee teenagers for more than 70 years. Established in 1952, it trained around 340 students each year in 16 different fields.

Ben Gvir celebrated the takeover, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the seizure had been carried out on his orders.

UNRWA strongly condemned the operation, saying armed Israeli forces entered a UN facility without the organisation’s consent. The agency stressed that UN facilities are protected under international law and that their inviolability must be respected.

The takeover came amid wider Israeli restrictions on UNRWA. Israel passed legislation in 2024 banning the agency from operating in the country and began enforcing the restrictions in 2025, including in occupied East Jerusalem. Since then, several UNRWA schools, health centres and its headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah have been shut.

Palestinian officials warned that the seizure could set a dangerous precedent for other international organisations operating in Jerusalem. They also said dozens of international organisations have recently faced closures or licence revocations.

The raid has further intensified concerns over Palestinian access to education, healthcare and humanitarian services, particularly in areas such as Kafr Aqab, where large Palestinian communities face severe restrictions on movement.