Israeli forces have begun clearing UNRWA from its decades-old Kafr Aqab compound in Jerusalem, according to The Zioneer. The site is slated to be replaced with an education hub including schools, a mosque, sports facilities, and healthcare for local Arab residents, at a cost of $13 million.
The Zioneer reports that Israeli forces have begun clearing the decades-old UNRWA compound in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood of Jerusalem. The site, one of the agency's last remaining bases in the city, is slated for redevelopment as a $13 million Arab education hub with schools, a mosque, sports facilities, and healthcare services.
The operation marks a significant step in Israel's campaign to dismantle UNRWA's presence in Jerusalem, following the passage of legislation targeting the agency's operations after the October 7, 2023 attacks. As The Zioneer reported in June, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee conducted a rare tour of the Kafr Aqab compound to assess implementation of the removal law, which had already been enforced at the Givat HaTachmoshet compound.
The replacement plan, which includes educational and social infrastructure for local Arab residents, reflects the government's stated policy of transferring UNRWA's functions to alternative bodies. Further details on the timeline and operational scope of the clearing operation are not yet available.
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