Israeli police raid U.N. center for Palestinian aid

Relief agency calls it a violation. Authorities claim ‘debt-collection’ action was ordered.

- By MreGan JANETSKY AND JULIA FRANKEL

Israeli police erect an Israeli flag on a U.N. Palestinian aid compound.

(MAHMOUD ILLEAN Associated Press)

Israeli police forcibly entered the compound of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem early Monday, escalating a campaign against the organization that has been banned from operating on Israeli territory.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees said in a statement that “sizable numbers” of Israeli forces, including police on motorcycles, trucks and forklifts, entered the compound in the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

“The unauthorized and forceful entry by Israeli security forces is an unacceptable violation of UNRWA’s privileges and immunities as a UN. agency,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he will meet with President Trump on Dec. 29, although Israel did not confirm the location of the meeting. On Monday, Netanyahu met with U.S. officials in Jerusalem about collaboration on the U.S.- brokered plan for the future of Gaza.

Long campaign against UNRWA

The raid was the latest in Israel's campaign against the agency that provides aid and services to some 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as 3 million more refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Photos taken by an Associated Press photographer show police erecting an Israeli flag on the compound, and police cars on the street. Photos provided by UNRWA staff show Israeli police officers in the compound.

Police said in a statement they entered for a “debt-collection procedure” initiated by Jerusalem’s municipal government, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.