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UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Israeli forces stand guard during a raid on the UNRWA Vocational Training Center, located between the Kafr Aqab neighborhood and the Qalandiya refugee camp, in East Jerusalem, August 25, 2026. (Zain JAAFAR/AFP)
August 25, 2026, 5:26 pm
Israel launches operation to take over East Jerusalem UNRWA facility it says it controls
PM: Israel to use ‘every means at its disposal’ to stop activity of UN agency ‘involved in terrorism’; Jerusalem says land owned by Jewish Agency since 1937, UNRWA says Jordan handed it over in 1952
By Noam Lehmann, ToI Staff and Nava Freiberg
Illustrative: Palestinian schoolgirls leave a UNRWA school in the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem on May 8, 2025, as Israeli security forces prepared to close the school. (Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)
August 16, 2026, 11:44 pm
UNRWA alleges Israeli takeover of agency buildings in East Jerusalem
‘These are not UNRWA properties, but privately owned properties for which the municipality has signed a usage agreement,’ Jerusalem Municipality says
By Nurit Yohanan
Two Palestinians walks with their bicycles past past the damaged Gaza City headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on February 15, 2024 (AFP)
June 13, 2026, 2:28 pm
UNRWA fires 70 Gaza staffers amid Israeli accusations agency riddled with Hamas operatives
Pro-Israel watchdog welcomes move but accuses refugee agency for Palestinians of hypocrisy in refusing to openly acknowledge links to Hamas; UNRWA: Dismissals not a validation of claims
Israel demolishes a structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem on January 20, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 18, 2026, 8:25 am
Israel approves new defense complex on site of former UNRWA East Jerusalem HQ
IDF museum, enlistment office, office for defense minister set to be built; Katz says ‘nothing more symbolic or just’ than placing them over ruins of UN agency compound
By Stav Levaton
UNRWA outgoing Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini speaks during his end of mandate press briefing at the United Nations offices in Geneva on March 31, 2026. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
March 31, 2026, 8:39 pm
On last day in office, UNRWA head urges probe into alleged IDF killing of nearly 400 workers
Lazzarini blasts what he calls ‘extraordinary level of impunity’ for Israeli actions in Gaza; he leaves behind an agency facing ‘collapse’ amid accusations it has extensive terror ties
By AFP and ToI Staff
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, speaks during a UN Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York City on January 28, 2025. (Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)
March 21, 2026, 9:47 am
Outgoing UNRWA head warns agency ‘may soon no longer be viable’ amid Israeli opposition
Warning from Philippe Lazzarini comes as the UN Palestinian refugee agency, which Israel accuses of colluding with Hamas, faces dire financial straits after US froze funding
By Reuters and ToI Staff
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its order on the request by Nicaragua to order Germany to cease arms sales to Israel against the background of the conflict in Gaza at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the ICJ, April 30, 2024. (Courtesy: International Court of Justice)
March 21, 2026, 5:25 am
Germany pulls support for Israel in ICJ genocide case as it faces own accusations
Berlin says it cannot support Israel’s case against charges without compromising defense of accusations by Nicaragua that Germany violated international law by backing Gaza war
By Shira Li Bartov
Palestinian Lubna Abu Sirya digs a small channel to drain rainwater that flooded her tent in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, February 24, 2026. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
February 24, 2026, 8:19 pm
Aid groups petition High Court to let them keep working in Gaza after ban over new rules
Licenses of 37 NGOs due to expire March 1 after they refused to hand over info on their foreign and Palestinian employees; petition says ban ‘will lead to a humanitarian collapse’
By Jeremy Sharon, Agencies and ToI Staff
Palestinian children, many of whom are part of displaced families, sit on the floor as they attend class, at the UNRWA Deir al-Balah Joint School, west of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on December 6, 2025. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP)
January 27, 2026, 8:24 pm
UN launches push to return Gazan children to school in aftermath of war
UNICEF says it needs $86 million for education program as school materials enter Gaza after being blocked for two years; Israel says learning kits, not textbooks, let into Strip
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Illustrative: Students snack during recess in the yard of the UNRWA Boys' School run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the Shuafat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
January 23, 2026, 4:18 pm
UNRWA school in West Bank city set to be closed by Israel within days, agency says
Qalandiya Training Center sits on land at risk of expropriation, UN Palestinian refugee body says; Israel demolished organization’s East Jerusalem compound earlier this week
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Israel demolishes a structure inside the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem on January 20, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 20, 2026, 12:23 pm
Israel demolishes UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters; UN agency: ‘Unprecedented attack’
Israel, which has banned the agency, says compound doesn’t enjoy immunity as UNRWA had ceased operations there; Ben Gvir celebrates at scene: ‘Terror supporters being kicked out’
By Noam Lehmann, Agencies and ToI Staff
Women wait to be served at a health clinic run by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Tuesday, January 28, 2025. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)
January 15, 2026, 5:08 pm
Israel shutters UNRWA health clinic in Jerusalem’s Old City for 30 days
Closure comes after laws banned UN agency from Israeli territory, cut off access to electricity and water; spigots, power to soon be shut off in other UNRWA Jerusalem buildings
By ToI Staff
A boy sits outside the entrance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) building complex in Gaza City on September 6, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
January 13, 2026, 11:05 pm
UN chief threatens to refer Israel to World Court over laws targeting UNRWA
In letter to PM, Guterres says legislation violates obligations under international law; UN envoy Danon says UN chief threatening Israel instead of dealing with terror in agency
By Reuters
Illustrative: Students snack during recess in the yard of the UNRWA Boys' School run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the Shuafat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
January 13, 2026, 8:59 pm
Jerusalem severs ties with 7 UN agencies, citing anti-Israel bias
Sa’ar decries UN Women for ignoring sexual violence cases on Oct. 7, slams another agency for wastefulness, will examine ties with further UN organizations
By ToI Staff
A boy sits outside the entrance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) building complex in Gaza City on September 6, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
January 11, 2026, 1:30 pm
‘Dire’ financial crisis forces UNRWA to drop hundreds of ex-Gazan staff from payroll
UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees says it laid off 571 workers who left the enclave at the start of the war and had been on its payroll until March of last year
By AFP and ToI Staff
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