DaysofPal – Fakhri Abu Diab, a member of the Council of Al-Aqsa Guardians and an expert on Jerusalem affairs, has warned of the serious repercussions of Israel’s demolition and leveling of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) headquarters in Jerusalem. The move comes alongside a proposed plan to build approximately 1,400 settlement units on the site.
Abu Diab told the press that the step sends a clear message to the world: Israel “does not recognize international law, the United Nations, or the immunity granted to international organizations.”
He explained that the demolition reflects a systematic policy aimed at undermining the Palestinian refugee issue. “Israel does not merely ignore international resolutions; it treats Jerusalem as part of its sovereign territory and acts there without restraint,” Abu Diab said.
Targeting Sheikh Jarrah
The planned settlement covers roughly 42 dunams in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, after Israeli forces demolished UNRWA buildings early Tuesday and raised the Israeli flag over the site, under the supervision of Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security.
The occupation authorities intend to construct about 1,400 multi-story settlement units on the land that previously housed UNRWA facilities east of Jerusalem.
Abu Diab emphasized that Israel has already destroyed parts of the UNRWA headquarters, asserted full control over the site, and treated it as part of Israeli sovereignty. The move, he said, signals a broader effort to remove any United Nations or international presence from Jerusalem.
The settlement plan includes the complete removal of existing structures and their replacement with multi-story settlement units. Abu Diab described this as a deliberate effort to erase the international footprint in the city and convert what was once an internationally affiliated site into a new settlement hub.
He warned that these actions could set a precedent for targeting other diplomatic and international institutions that might oppose Israeli policies. According to Abu Diab, the silence of the international community regarding ongoing violations has encouraged Israel to continue its actions with impunity.
Earlier in 2025, UNRWA vacated its long-standing headquarters, which had been in use since the 1950s, following an Israeli government decision that prohibited its operations in Jerusalem under a law passed by the Knesset. Later that year, the Knesset approved legislation cutting electricity and water supplies to UNRWA offices, drawing widespread international condemnation.
Abu Diab described the current demolition and settlement plan as the latest step in a continuing campaign to consolidate Israeli control over Jerusalem and diminish the presence of international institutions in the city.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=71500
