The head of UNRWA said Israeli forces damaged the agency’s West Bank office; Israel disputes claims

Israeli bulldozers damaged the UN aid agency UNRWA office in the West Bank’s Nur Shams camp on Thursday, the agency’s head said, with Israel disputed his account in the latest exchange between the two sides.

Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said on social media site X that the office was severely damaged and was no longer fit for use.

However, the Israeli military issued a statement denying responsibility for any damage to the building.

“The claim that the UNRWA office in Nur Shams was destroyed by IDF soldiers is false,” the statement said, citing the Israel Defense Forces.

“Terrorists planted explosives near UNRWA offices, which were then detonated in an attempt to harm IDF soldiers. The explosives likely caused damage to the building,” the IDF statement said.

Israel passed a law Monday banning UNRWA from operating in the country, a law that could impact its work in war-torn Gaza.

Lawmakers who drafted the bill cited what they said was the involvement of some UNRWA employees in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, as well as employees who are members of Hamas and other armed groups.

The UN, following an investigation, said in August that nine UNRWA staff may have been involved in the Oct. 7 attacks and fired them. UNRWA states that the vast majority of its staff adheres to the principles of neutrality.

Lazzarini called the vote to ban UNRWA a “dangerous precedent” that is contrary to the UN charter and violates Israel’s obligations under international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said UNRWA employees “engaged in terrorist activities” must be held accountable.