Israel Begins Dismantling UNRWA’s Jerusalem HQ After Hamas Ties Exposed

Israel began dismantling the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters on Ammunition Hill in northern Jerusalem on Tuesday, continuing a sweeping campaign to shut down the agency's operations following revelations of ties to Hamas.

The compound, once UNRWA’s central hub for managing all activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, had remained vacant for over a year, according to the Foreign Ministry. Israeli security personnel oversaw the dismantling to ensure worker safety during the process.

“This is a historic day, a holiday, and a very important day for Jerusalem's governance,” said National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has spearheaded legislation to remove UNRWA from Israel entirely.

“For years, these terror supporters were here, and today they are banished with everything they built,” he added.

MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu), co-sponsor of the bill that led to the agency’s expulsion, declared, “Redemption has come to Zion!”

UNRWA’s operations in Israel were outlawed in late 2024, following investigations revealing that multiple employees were affiliated with Hamas and some were allegedly involved in the October 7 massacre. The findings triggered a legislative blitz, culminating in a Knesset vote in December 2025 that cut water and electricity to all UNRWA facilities within Israeli borders.

Additional discoveries of Hamas tunnels and weapons caches beneath UNRWA-run buildings in Gaza further inflamed Israeli public and political sentiment.

The Foreign Ministry clarified that Tuesday’s demolition was not the result of new policy but rather the continuation of legal measures previously enacted.

"The compound does not enjoy any immunity,” the ministry said. “The seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law.”

While the UN compound is technically Israeli state property operated by the Israel Land Authority, officials emphasized that the dismantling was part of a broader campaign to sever ties with what they now describe as “UNRWA-Hamas.”

Less than two weeks ago, Israeli forces also evacuated UNRWA’s facility in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.

Critics argue that Israel’s crackdown on UNRWA risks leaving a humanitarian void in Palestinian communities, while supporters say dismantling the agency is necessary to eliminate a longstanding security threat embedded within international aid structures.

For now, Israeli officials appear determined to press ahead with a full expulsion of the UN agency, with Jerusalem’s Ammunition Hill compound the latest high-profile casualty of that policy. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.