A New Flashpoint: Israel's Forceful Entry into UNRWA Compound

Israeli police forcibly entered a UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, escalating tensions with the agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. The entry follows Israel's formal ban on the agency and accusations of Hamas infiltration. UNRWA supporters warn of the potential impact on refugee services.

Early Monday morning, Israeli police carried out a forced entry into the compound of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem. This development is part of an ongoing campaign against the agency, which has been banned from operating within Israeli territory.

The operation saw significant numbers of Israeli forces entering the compound, including police officers on motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts, cutting communications and planting an Israeli flag atop the building. The official rationale provided by police cited a 'debt-collection procedure' organized by Jerusalem's municipal government, though the government has not commented.

UNRWA, established to assist Palestinian refugees, has faced mounting pressures, especially during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Accusations from Israel about Hamas infiltrations have been denied by the UN, as other agencies like WFP and UNICEF step in to assist, highlighting the immense void that UNRWA's absence could create.

(With inputs from agencies.)