UNRWA warns of educational impacts after Israeli raid on training center
The head of UNRWA condemned Israel's seizure of the Qalandiya Training Centre, which has left 340 young Palestinians without access to education. The raid, described as a violation of international law, resulted in injuries to five Palestinians.
Sources
Israeli troops completed a raid on the Qalandiya Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem, marking the sixth raid on the facility this year, during which approximately 40 staff members were expelled and significant damage was reported. The centre, which has been operating since 1952, provides vocational training for around 340 Palestinian refugees annually, and boasts a 90% job placement rate for its graduates across 16 specializations, despite the high unemployment rate of nearly one in three Palestinians in the West Bank. UNRWA expressed hope to reopen the centre quickly, as it plays a vital role in equipping Palestinians with skills necessary for gaining employment and rebuilding their lives.
The head of UNRWA condemned the Israeli seizure of its Qalandiya Training Centre, which has deprived 340 young Palestinians of education and violates international law. Five Palestinians were injured during the raid, which involved far-right Israeli officials asserting that there is "no place for the agency in Jerusalem." UNRWA's role and funding are under threat amid the broader conflict, with the agency serving approximately 16,000 refugees in the area, and its mandate is linked to the UN General Assembly.
Israeli forces, led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, raided the Qalandiya Training Centre run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, which officials describe as a critical move toward dismantling international refugee protections. This assault is part of a broader strategy to consolidate Israeli control over the West Bank, aiming to establish a settlement of over 9,000 units adjacent to the historic Qalandiya Airport, potentially impacting 12-13% of the total West Bank area and disrupting Palestinian continuity. The raid marks a significant violation of agreements protecting UNRWA's operations, with implications for the essential services the agency provides to millions of Palestinians.