After Israeli seizure of Kalandia training centre, UNRWA warns of impact on youth
The seizure of a vocational training centre in occupied East Jerusalem has left hundreds of Palestinian young people without access to skills and training that could help shape their futures. Israeli authorities forcibly entered the Kalandia Vocational Training Centre on Tuesday, 24 August, and took control of the facility, according to the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA . The centre was
Source: United Nations News · August 28, 2026 at 8:01 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-source
JERUSALEM, EAST JERUSALEM, WEST BANK, GAZA STRIP, OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, 28 AUGUST 2026 —
Israeli seizure of East Jerusalem training centre disrupts UNRWA programmes for 340 Palestinian youth
Market Impact
JERUSALEM, 28 Aug – The forcible takeover of the Kalandia Vocational Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem has left 340 young Palestinian men without access to vocational education just days before the start of the new scholastic year, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Thursday.
Israeli security forces and municipal officials entered the facility on 24 August, occupying the premises and preventing UNRWA staff from resuming operations. The centre was the last UNRWA-run vocational facility still operating in East Jerusalem after Israeli authorities closed six UNRWA schools in the city earlier this year.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the seizure, calling it a violation of UN privileges and immunities. In a statement, he demanded Israel immediately cease interference with UNRWA installations, vacate the premises, and restore them to UN control without delay.
The incident follows the adoption of Israeli legislation—described by UNRWA as “anti-UNRWA”—nearly 18 months ago, which has progressively restricted the agency’s operations in East Jerusalem. Amendments passed in December 2025 authorised Israeli authorities to seize UNRWA compounds, including the main headquarters and the Kalandia centre, and to cut water and electricity to UN installations in the city.
Roland Friedrich, UNRWA Director of Affairs in the West Bank, told UN News that the seizure was part of a broader campaign to end UNRWA’s presence in East Jerusalem. “This is an unacceptable violation of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” he said. “The continuation of this situation will very likely deprive 340 male youth from the West Bank of their right to education.”
On the day of the seizure, 24 UNRWA staff were on site preparing for the new academic year, which was scheduled to begin this week. Israeli forces searched the compound, opened buildings, and temporarily detained the staff before releasing them. No official reason for the operation has been provided by Israeli authorities.
UNRWA operates under a mandate from the UN General Assembly and is protected by international conventions that guarantee the inviolability of its premises and the immunity of its staff. These protections apply globally, including in conflict-affected areas such as the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Any Member State of the United Nations, through its obligations under the Charter and the General Convention, is required to respect the privileges and immunities of the UN,” Friedrich said. “What we saw on Tuesday is exactly the opposite. This sets a dangerous precedent not only for our work here but for UN operations worldwide in high-risk contexts.”
UNRWA continues to provide critical services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip despite legal and operational restrictions. In the West Bank, the agency employs 4,600 staff across 50 health facilities, delivering 1.1 million health consultations annually and supporting education programmes. In Gaza, more than 11,000 staff provide humanitarian aid, including shelter, food assistance, and cash support to over 270,000 beneficiaries.
However, two Israeli laws now limit UNRWA’s ability to operate in East Jerusalem. One bans the agency from areas Israel considers sovereign territory, while a second enforces a no-contact policy with Israeli authorities, affecting operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite these challenges, UNRWA maintains its presence in the West Bank, where it continues to deliver education, health, and social protection services.
Friedrich stressed the need for international pressure to restore UNRWA’s access to the Kalandia centre and reverse what he described as a shrinking humanitarian space in the West Bank. “We need a restoration of respect for the United Nations and for UNRWA as an agency mandated by the General Assembly,” he said. “The humanitarian space in the West Bank is shrinking, and that trend must be reversed.”
The seizure of the Kalandia centre comes amid broader concerns over forced displacement and settlement expansion in the West Bank. UN officials warn that these trends, combined with restrictions on humanitarian access, are eroding the conditions necessary for sustainable development and peace.
For now, the future of the 340 students who relied on the Kalandia centre remains uncertain. UNRWA has called for the immediate return of the facility so that vocational training can resume before the academic year begins. Without access, hundreds of young Palestinians face a further delay in acquiring skills that could improve their employment prospects and contribute to their communities.
The international community’s response will be closely watched, as the incident raises broader questions about the protection of UN facilities and the rights of Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem.