UNRWA HQ Fire: Another 'Accident' in East Jerusalem
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that UNRWA's demolished headquarters in East Jerusalem was set on fire, following its seizure by Israeli authorities. The agency describes it as a deliberate act, underscoring the escalating threats against its operations and personnel. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This incident follows decades of direct action and legislative efforts to
dismantle UNRWA. In 2018, the Trump administration cut $300 million in aid to UNRWA, a move widely criticized as a political attack aimed at erasing Palestinian refugee status. More recently, Israel’s Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, advocated for “eradicating” UNRWA, claiming there's no longer a need for a Palestinian refugee agency in Jerusalem. This fire is not random; it's a physical
manifestation of a stated political agenda. This also echoes the Nakba of 1948, which expelled 750,000 Palestinians, creating the refugee crisis UNRWA was formed to address, and the subsequent targeting of any institution that preserves Palestinian identity or right of return. Double Standard: Imagine if any other UN agency's headquarters, say, UNICEF in Paris or the WHO in Geneva, were forcefully
seized and then set on fire in a Western capital. The international outcry would be immediate, unified, and lead to swift condemnation and investigation. Yet, when it happens to UNRWA in East Jerusalem, a critical lifeline for millions, the response is muted, often framed as 'tensions' or 'property disputes,' implicitly normalizing the aggression. The media rarely frames this as a deliberate