Israeli forces shut down UNRWA vocational centre in West Bank

Israeli security units entered a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) vocational training centre in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, ordering the facility to cease operations. The centre, which offered courses ranging from carpentry to information technology, has been a key source of livelihood for dozens of Palestinian refugees in the area.

Witnesses reported that soldiers arrived in armored vehicles, conducted a brief search of the premises and then posted a notice demanding the immediate suspension of all programmes. Staff members were escorted out, and equipment was left untouched but inaccessible. UNRWA officials, who declined to name the specific location, confirmed that the centre would remain closed until further notice, citing security concerns and the need to protect staff and beneficiaries.

The shutdown comes amid a broader pattern of heightened Israeli activity in the West Bank, where checkpoints, home demolitions and occasional raids have intensified over the past months. Humanitarian groups warn that restricting UNRWA’s services could exacerbate economic hardship for refugees who already face high unemployment and limited mobility.

UNRWA’s mandate, established in 1949, includes providing education, health care and vocational training to millions of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab‑Israeli conflict. The agency has repeatedly called for unhindered access to its facilities, emphasizing that its programmes are civilian‑focused and do not pose security threats.

International observers have urged both sides to respect humanitarian space, stressing that the closure of a training centre undermines efforts to promote self‑reliance among refugee communities. The situation remains fluid, and UNRWA is reportedly assessing alternative sites to resume its vocational courses.