UNRWA chief says Israeli forces damaged agency’s West Bank office

 Israeli bulldozers damaged the office of UN aid agency UNRWA in the West Bank’s Nur Shams camp on Thursday, the agency’s chief said, with Israel disputing his account in the latest exchange between both sides.

Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the UN Palestinian refugee agency, said on social media platform X that the office was severely damaged and was no longer usable. 

On Monday, Israel passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in war-torn Gaza.

The lawmakers who drafted the law cited what they described as the involvement of some UNRWA staffers in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and staffers having membership in Hamas and other armed groups.

Lazzarini called the vote a “dangerous precedent” that opposes the UN charter and violates Israel’s obligation under international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said UNRWA workers “involved in terrorist activities” must be held accountable.