The IDF, Israel Police, and Jerusalem Municipality began on Tuesday to evacuate the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab in the north of the capital.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the move. “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 Netnayhu stated: "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."
Earlier this month, in response to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News's request for information, the police stated that several professional-level discussions were held, and police, IDF, and Jerusalem Municipality representatives toured the site.
According to the police response, at the time, the issue was at an advanced stage ahead of the complex's full eviction and the commencement of work on site by the Jerusalem Municipality. The police further stated that they will continue to work in full operational coordination with the security and enforcement bodies to complete the eviction and work.
About a year ago, the Knesset approved the UNRWA law by a vote of 92 members, stipulating that UNRWA would no longer be permitted to operate in Israel after it was revealed that many of its employees were terrorists who participated in the October 7th Massacre.
Several months later, Israeli security forces carried out operations at UNRWA's headquarters in the Ma'alot Dafna neighborhood of Jerusalem, demolished the buildings, and announced that an IDF recruitment office would be established on the site.
By contrast, the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab, which houses schools and medical clinics, has not yet been evacuated. About six months ago, security forces arrived to assess its evacuation but came under live fire, during which a terrorist was killed. Since then, the evacuation has not been carried out.