Israel Advances Defence Plan on Former UNRWA Site as Gaza Strikes Kill More Palestinians
May 2026 | By Azad News
At least five Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza, even as Israeli authorities approved a controversial plan to construct a defence-related facility on the site of a former UNRWA office in occupied East Jerusalem.
The proposed project includes a recruitment office, a military museum, and offices for the Israeli defence minister, according to regional reports, marking a significant redevelopment of the demolished UN facility.
Israel’s Defence Minister described the move as an assertion of sovereignty, while the United Nations agency UNRWA declined to comment on the decision.
UNRWA had previously operated in East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, and across the region, providing essential services including education, healthcare, and humanitarian support to millions of Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continued in Gaza, where officials reported multiple fatalities in strikes across central and southern areas of the enclave.
One strike reportedly hit a community kitchen near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, while another incident occurred near a police post in Khan Younis, according to health officials.
The Israeli military also claimed responsibility for targeting a Hamas commander in an airstrike in Gaza City, as part of ongoing operations in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country was “very close to completing” its military objectives in Gaza and reiterated that those responsible for the 2023 attacks would be eliminated.
Palestinian authorities report that the death toll in Gaza has continued to rise significantly, with widespread displacement and humanitarian concerns deepening across the territory.
In a separate development, the Palestinian political movement Fatah held its first major congress in a decade, resulting in the election of new members to its central decision-making body, including Yasser Abbas, the son of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Conclusion
The simultaneous escalation of military activity in Gaza and political restructuring within Palestinian leadership highlights a period of intense instability across the occupied territories.
This article is a rewritten summary based on publicly available information. It has been fully paraphrased for informational purposes only and does not reproduce any original copyrighted text.
