UK minister condemns 'outrageous' Israeli seizure of Unrwa training centre

Stephen Doughty, British minister of state for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, has issued a statement condemning the Israeli seizure of Unrwa's Qalandiya Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem as "outrageous". “This UN facility has offered generations of Palestinian refugees education & opportunity,” Doughty said in a post on X. The minister urged that “Israel must comply with its obligations and respect [the] inviolability of UN premises”. Israeli forces stormed and occupied the Unrwa centre on Tuesday, and continued their occupation of the building. The Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli municipal technical crews had entered the institute and begun “maintenance and renovation” work inside its buildings, preparing it to receive Israeli students. The seizure of the building on Tuesday was condemned by the UN, who said the move "strikes at the ability of the United Nations to carry out its mandate”.