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Israel's seizure of Unrwa training college in East Jerusalem condemned
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Israeli security forces raided and closed the last operating UNRWA training college in occupied East Jerusalem, located between Qalandia and Kfar Aqab behind Israel's separation barrier.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the evacuation, accusing UNRWA of involvement in the deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, allegations that UNRWA strongly denies.
- Israeli legislation passed last year bans UNRWA from operating in what Israel considers its territory, including East Jerusalem, which it annexed in 1967 but is not internationally recognized.
- Israeli officials claim some UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 attack and allege links between UNRWA staff and Palestinian armed groups, while UN investigations found limited evidence and UNRWA denies these accusations.
- The UN and Palestinian Authority condemned the raid, with the UN warning it deprives young people of vocational education and the Palestinian Authority calling on the international community to protect the college and its staff.
