Israel has approved plans to construct a new military complex on the grounds of a former United Nations office in East Jerusalem, according to an announcement from Defense Minister Israel Katz. The site, previously home to the UN Relief and Works Agency headquarters, was seized and partially demolished by Israeli forces last year following legislation that banned the agency's operations in areas under Israeli control.
The proposed compound will span approximately nine acres near Ammunition Hill and is expected to house an IDF museum, recruitment offices, and facilities for the defense minister. Officials said the project stems from an agreement signed in December between the Defense Ministry and the Jerusalem municipality to relocate several military colleges to the capital.
Katz described the decision in stark terms during a Sunday statement. "This is a decision of sovereignty, Zionism and security," he said. "There is nothing more symbolic or just than establishing defense institutions on the ruins of the UNRWA compound." The minister linked the move to accusations that the agency had colluded with Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli communities.
Israeli authorities have maintained that the compound's seizure was justified by evidence of ties between some UNRWA staff and militant groups. An internal UNRWA probe conducted in 2024 found that available evidence indicated nine of its employees "may have been involved in the attacks of October 7." The United Nations has denied any institutional support for Hamas while acknowledging the individual cases.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the demolition of the office, calling it "a new level of open and deliberate defiance of international law." The agency continues to operate schools, clinics, and aid programs for Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria despite the restrictions imposed by Israeli lawmakers.
More than 2.3 million people have been displaced by Israel's military campaign in Gaza since late 2023, with over one million sheltering in UNRWA facilities at various points, according to UN figures. The same reports indicate that more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict.
UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of catastrophic conditions inside the enclave, including widespread hunger and severe overcrowding in refugee camps. Israel has rejected accusations of deliberately targeting civilians and has argued that Hamas has diverted food aid and obstructed humanitarian deliveries.
The new defense headquarters represents a significant repurposing of land that originally served Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Israeli officials view the project as a statement of permanent control over the area, while critics see it as further erosion of international presence in East Jerusalem.
Construction timelines remain unclear, though the Defense Ministry has indicated that planning is already underway following the municipal agreement. The compound is expected to consolidate several military functions currently spread across different locations in the city.
Regional reactions have been swift. Palestinian officials and Arab governments have denounced the plan as provocative, while some Israeli commentators have praised it as a necessary assertion of sovereignty. The differing interpretations reflect longstanding divisions over Jerusalem's status and the role of international organizations in the conflict.
UNRWA's future operations in the region face continued uncertainty after the Israeli ban. The agency has warned that any further restrictions could severely impact aid delivery to millions of registered refugees who rely on its services for basic needs.
Israeli media reports have highlighted the symbolic weight of building defense institutions on the former UN site, noting its proximity to Ammunition Hill, a location with historical significance from previous conflicts. The project is expected to include public elements such as the proposed IDF museum alongside operational military facilities.
Officials have not provided detailed cost estimates or specific completion dates for the compound. The focus remains on relocating key military education and administrative functions to the new location as part of broader efforts to strengthen defense infrastructure in Jerusalem.
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions in Gaza and the West Bank, where humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate according to multiple aid groups. Both sides continue to trade accusations over responsibility for the suffering of civilians caught in the fighting.