Portrait of Itamar Ben Gvir
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Itamar Ben Gvir on UNRWA

Demolishes UNRWA HQs (strong)

TL;DR

Itamar Ben Gvir personally led Israeli forces to demolish the United Nations Relief and Works Agency headquarters in East Jerusalem.

Key Points

  • He personally led Israeli forces during the demolition of UNRWA's headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem on January 20, 2026.

  • He declared the demolition a "historic day" for Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and vowed similar action against other "terror supporters."

  • His actions followed legislation passed by the Knesset that banned UNRWA's activities within Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Summary

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir actively participated in and celebrated the demolition of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem on January 20, 2026. He referred to the action as "a historic day for sovereignty in Jerusalem" while accompanying the forces that bulldozed the structures and raised an Israeli flag over the site. Ben Gvir stated that "supporters of terror are being kicked out along with everything they built".

This highly visible act of destruction followed Knesset legislation that banned UNRWA from operating in the area and subsequent orders to cut utilities to its premises. His involvement and statements signaled a complete rejection of the agency's presence and mandate in the territory, framing the demolition as an assertion of Israeli governance. This action was widely condemned internationally as a violation of international law regarding UN premises and immunity.

Key Quotes

“This is an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” it said.

Frequently Asked Questions

Itamar Ben Gvir holds a strongly negative position toward UNRWA, which he views as associated with terrorism and an impediment to Israeli sovereignty. His stance is demonstrated by his active participation in the demolition of the agency's headquarters in East Jerusalem.

Yes, the National Security Minister personally led Israeli forces during the operation to demolish structures within the UNRWA compound. He celebrated the event, describing it as a historic day for Israeli governance over Jerusalem.

During the demolition of the UNRWA compound, Itamar Ben Gvir stated that "supporters of terror are being kicked out along with everything they built." This rhetoric aligns with the Israeli government's broader campaign to discredit and remove the agency from the area.