Attaqwaa.org

Israeli authorities have cut off water and electricity supplies to the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in occupied East Jerusalem, escalating pressure on the UN agency's operations in the city. The move represents another significant step in Israel's campaign to limit UNRWA's presence and activities within areas under its control.

On Wednesday, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen personally visited the UNRWA compound alongside workers from Hagihon, the local water and waste management company. During the visit, he supervised the physical disconnection of essential services to the premises. Cohen later confirmed to Israeli media that the visit was intended to ensure water supply to the agency's offices was fully cut off.

The action follows legislation passed at the end of 2025, which authorizes Israeli authorities to disconnect water and electricity to UNRWA facilities in East Jerusalem. This law built on an earlier decision made in late 2024, when Israel announced that UNRWA would no longer be permitted to operate in East Jerusalem or within Israel.

Earlier this year, Israeli forces compelled UNRWA to evacuate its main office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Shortly after the evacuation, the property was seized and subsequently demolished, drawing sharp criticism from the international community. Several countries, including Britain, Canada, France, Japan, and Spain, publicly condemned the demolition.

UNRWA plays a critical role in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. The agency employs about 12,000 staff across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, delivering healthcare, education, and social protection services to millions in need.

Beyond the Palestinian territories, UNRWA's services extend to refugee communities in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Any disruption to its operations, observers warn, risks deepening humanitarian hardship across the region and further destabilizing already vulnerable populations.

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