Israel dismisses Guterres's criticism regarding takeover of Jerusalem UNRWA compound
Israel on Wednesday rejected U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’s criticism of its takeover of a former U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) facility in Kafr Aqab. The U.N. agency had no property rights…
Assessment
Israel is pushing forward with converting a former UNRWA facility in Kafr Aqab into a local educational and community center, directly rebutting the UN secretary-general's claim that the takeover was unlawful. The foreign ministry spokesperson flatly accused Guterres of lying, escalating a public dispute between the two sides. The move signals Israel's determination to assert control over properties it deems legally available, regardless of UN objections, and tests how far it will go to restructure the UNRWA presence in Jerusalem.