Israeli Forces Demolish UNRWA Office in Nour Shams Refugee Camp.

Nour shams: Israeli occupation forces demolished the office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) today in the Nour Shams refugee camp, located east of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank. This incident marks a significant escalation following a recently passed law by the Israeli Knesset, which bans UNRWA operations in the region.

According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Nour Shams Services Committee, reported that Israeli bulldozers demolished the UNRWA office, which was centrally located in the camp, along with its surrounding walls. The camp is home to two UNRWA schools, one for girls and another for boys, serving a total of 1,536 students based on the 2022-2023 academic year data.

In addition to the educational facilities, the Nour Shams camp includes a health center managed by UNRWA, providing primary healthcare services. These services encompass reproductive health, maternal and child care, vaccinations, medical check
-ups, and dental clinics, all crucial for the well-being of the camp’s residents.

The demolition follows the Israeli Knesset’s passing of a law on Monday that prohibits the operations of UNRWA, despite international warnings regarding the potential implications of such legislation. The law aims to “prevent any activity by UNRWA in the territory of the State of Israel,” effectively nullifying the 1967 agreement that allowed the agency to function within Israel and its occupied territories.

This new legislation halts UNRWA’s activities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, prohibiting any communication between Israeli officials and UNRWA staff. Established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1949, UNRWA is mandated to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees across its five areas of operation: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza.