12 countries, including eight European Union members, have criticized Israel over its decision to begin dismantling a UNRWA vocational training center in Kafr Aqab, an area of eastern Jerusalem.
The statement was issued Thursday by Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. All 12 countries serve on UNRWA’s Advisory Commission.
They described Israel’s entry into and seizure of the facility as “unlawful" and reaffirmed their support for the UN agency for "Palestinian refugees".
The countries called for “immediate and full compliance with the UN obligations allowing UNRWA to carry out its mandated activities without interference," while urging Israel to “halt all disruptions" to the agency’s operations.
The joint condemnation followed an operation earlier this week involving the IDF, Israel Police and Jerusalem Municipality to evacuate the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab, in northern Jerusalem.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the operation, saying Israeli authorities were acting in accordance with legislation targeting UNRWA.
“This morning, Israel Police forces are working with the relevant authorities to enforce the law and remove UNRWA from the premises. An organization whose employees were involved in terrorism and that repeatedly served as a cover for Hamas has no right to exist for even one more second, and has no place in Jerusalem or the State of Israel," he stated.
“My policy is clear: Sovereignty is not something you talk about - it is something you exercise. The Israel Police will continue to act resolutely to enforce the law, strengthen governance and make it clear that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and so it will remain. Anyone who establishes terrorist nests there will be removed," Ben Gvir added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the evacuation was carried out under legislation approved by the Knesset and following his instructions.
"In accordance with my directive and following the law we passed, the evacuation of the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab, Jerusalem, began today. The State of Israel will not allow an organization whose employees were complicit in terrorism and the October 7 massacre to operate within its territory, and will act against it by all means at its disposal."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously condemned the Israeli action, warning that it would deprive young people of vocational training.
“The Secretary-General is greatly alarmed at this development, as it will deprive young people of the vocational education they were receiving," Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Dujarric also stressed that the training facility is covered by the protections afforded to UNRWA properties, saying the training center “and other UNRWA premises are premises of the United Nations. They are inviolable and immune from any form of interference."
UNRWA has faced sustained Israeli criticism over ties between its employees and the Hamas terrorist organization. The criticism intensified in 2024 after Israel presented evidence that UNRWA personnel had participated in the October 7, 2023 attack.
The UN subsequently established a review group headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine the allegations. Its report identified "neutrality-related issues" within UNRWA, while also stating that Israel had not provided evidence supporting claims that a significant number of agency employees belonged to terrorist organizations.
In October 2024, the Knesset approved legislation prohibiting UNRWA from operating in Israel and preventing Israeli officials from maintaining contact with the agency. The legislation was later amended to prohibit the provision of electricity and water to UNRWA facilities.
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