Border Police raided the UNRWA compound in the Kfar Aqab neighborhood of northern Jerusalem on Tuesday, according to MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beiteinu), who said the operation was the result of her petition to the High Court demanding enforcement of the anti-UNRWA law. Malinovsky, who sponsored the legislation, said the government had previously avoided implementing it.
Border Police units raided the UNRWA compound in the Kfar Aqab neighborhood of northern Jerusalem on Tuesday afternoon, according to MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beiteinu), who told The Zioneer the operation followed her petition to the High Court of Justice. Malinovsky, who sponsored the Knesset law severing ties with UNRWA, said the government had refused to enforce it until the court became involved, and that she petitioned after Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir did not respond to her requests.
The raid came hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday at 15:22 Jerusalem that the evacuation of the compound had begun. Netanyahu said Israel "will not allow an organization whose employees were involved in terrorism and the October 7 massacre to operate in its territory." The development followed months of tension over enforcement of the anti-UNRWA law, passed in 2025. As The Zioneer reported, in late July Malinovsky accused the government of failing to implement the legislation, and on August 3 she stated that Netanyahu and Katz had decided against evacuating the site.
The compound in Kfar Aqab was the last UNRWA facility in Israeli-controlled territory. The raid was not widely covered; Malinovsky accused Ben Gvir of granting a media exclusive to one outlet. Video clips from the scene circulated on social media. It remains unclear whether the evacuation has been completed or whether further enforcement is anticipated.
2 developments
- DevelopingMK Yulia Malinovsky: Government failing to enforce anti-UNRWA laws, agency still operating in Kfar Aqab
- DevelopingMK Malinovsky says Netanyahu, Katz decided against evacuating UNRWA from Kfar Aqab
- DevelopingIsraeli lawmaker calls for expelling UNRWA after report 101 more staff took part in October 7 massacre
- DevelopingKnesset committee plans rare tour of UNRWA compound in Kfar Aqab next week
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