US, Saudi Arabia condemn Israel's plan to close UNRWA Jerusalem offices, turn property into apartments

In a recent letter from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, the U.S. officials complained about Israel’s actions against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. 

“We are deeply concerned about the potential adoption of Knesset legislation to remove certain privileges and immunities from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its staff, prohibit official contact with UNRWA, and change the status quo regarding UNRWA in Jerusalem,” the letter stated. 

The U.S. diplomats acknowledged “concerns about the serious allegations of certain UNRWA employees participating in the October 7 terrorist attacks and of Hamas misusing UNRWA facilities.” 

Among the proposed measures against UNRWA is the closure of its Jerusalem headquarters, with plans to repurpose the site for residential apartments.

Israel has long complained about UNRWA and its connections to the Hamas terrorist organization, even before the start of the war in Gaza. However, since the war began and the IDF began to expose the extent of Hamas’ misuse of UNRWA facilities, the employment of Hamas terrorists within the agency, and the agency’s failure to cut ties with the Hamas terror group, several Israeli Members of Knesset have proposed new legislation declaring UNRWA to be a terror organization.

If the legislation passes, it will force the Israeli government to cut official ties with the agency and would give the government legal grounds for closing UNRWA’s headquarters. 

Along with the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemned “in the strongest terms” the decision to turn UNRWA's Jerusalem headquarters into a new apartment complex.

In a statement in English, the Saudi Foreign Ministry noted “the Kingdom’s rejection of the continued blatant Israeli violations of international laws and resolutions…and its systematic political and military targeting of the United Nations agencies and its relief organizations.” 

While such a plan has not yet received government approval, last week, the Israel Land Authority said it was preparing a proposal to convert the UNRWA complex into apartment units, after telling UNRWA to evacuate. 

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also declared that it will continue to support UNRWA’s “humanitarian mission.” 

“The Kingdom also rejects the continued endangerment of the lives of relief workers, expressing its support for UNRWA in its humanitarian mission to provide relief to Palestinian refugees.”

Israel’s efforts to shut down UNRWA in Jerusalem have gained increasing support from among its citizens following the start of the war. 

Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu party) posted a statement on 𝕏, saying, “There is a lot of respect for the deep and important friendship with the Americans, but interfering in legislative procedures in Israel is too much.” 

She called UNRWA a “terrorist organization,” adding, “We all know the facts about UNRWA, and I really hope that the American government is also aware that we are dealing with a terrorist organization.” 

Under former President Donald Trump, the U.S. government cut funding to UNRWA over questions regarding the organization’s ties to Hamas. That funding was reinstated by President Joe Biden, despite UNRWA not making significant efforts to address the issues of concern.