According to a report by the Times of Israel on Tuesday May 19, 2026, after Israel went ahead with plans to build a Military facility on land that used to house the Jerusalem headquarters of UNRWA in East Jerusalem, the UN is considering its next move.
On Sunday, the plan was greenlit by Israeli authorities. Near Ammunition Hill, on land that was once occupied by a United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, is where the proposed project’s new Israel Defence Forces museum, recruiting center, and defence ministerial offices are set to rise.
Senior legal officials within the UN system are now aware of the situation. While visiting Syria, UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Natalie Boucly stated that the organization’s response was being discussed at the highest level of the legal system in New York.
“At the very least, this is a violation of the 1946 United Nations Convention on privileges and immunities,” Boucly stated, adding that the location in question is UN premises.
For quite some time, the location has been contentious between UNRWA and Israel. Parts of the East Jerusalem site were demolished earlier this year by Israeli authorities, following years of political and legislative pressure targeting the agency.
Israeli officials have long claimed that UNRWA employees were involved in militant actions or were in cahoots with Hamas, most recently in relation to the attacks on October 7, 2023. Although the agency’s activities have been under increased scrutiny since the war started, it has denied any systemic involvement in terrorism.
In December, the Jerusalem municipality and Israel’s Defence Ministry inked a deal to increase the city’s defense-related infrastructure. Jerusalem was to host more defence offices and military institutions as part of the larger plan……See More
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