“It is UNRWA’s neutrality that allows it to operate on all sides and among various parties, to ensure the safe, sustained and unimpeded delivery of assistance and protection in an effective and efficient manner.” Hypothetically, one should add. Despite UNRWA’s insistence on neutrality, and despite neutrality becoming a condition for continued funding for the agency, Israel’s attacks on the agency testify to the contrary. Neutrality only serves violent interests, and when it comes up across colonialism, the illusion of a safe space is demolished.

Earlier this week, Israel destroyed UNRWA’s headquarters in Jerusalem, which the agency described as “an unprecedented attack against a United Nations agency and its premises.” 

Several videos on Facebook show Jerusalem’s Mayor Aryeh King inside UNRWA premises in Sheikh Jarrah, breaking a printed depiction of UNRWA’s logo in a conference room. He was........

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