Christian Saunders, chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), stated on August 26, 2026, that Israel's seizure of the agency's training centre in occupied East Jerusalem is part of efforts to eliminate both UNRWA and the Palestinian refugee issue. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Saunders emphasized that despite these actions, UNRWA is "not planning on going anywhere."

The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the status of Palestinian refugees and the role of UNRWA in the region.

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