JERUSALEM, January 13, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities notified a clinic belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem of its closure.
The Jerusalem Governorate stated in a press release issued Tuesday that the occupation authorities notified the Jerusalem Health Center (al-Zawiya Clinic), located inside Bab al-Sahira and affiliated with UNRWA, of its closure for one month, until February 11. This move aims to undermine health services provided in Jerusalem.
The statement added that the notification included a threat to cut off water and electricity to the clinic if it reopens after the closure period ends. This threatens serious repercussions for the right to healthcare and directly impacts the needs of Jerusalem residents, especially the most vulnerable groups.
The Zawiya Clinic is the oldest UNRWA health center, having opened in 1949. It serves 30,000 refugees, providing primary healthcare for children up to three years old, as well as for children and pregnant women. The clinic also offers family planning services, mental health care, treatment for chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, an emergency department, and dental care. It's worth noting that family planning, childhood vaccinations, and mental health services are available to both refugees and non-refugees.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that the Israeli occupation authorities have approved practical steps to implement the law cutting off electricity and water to UNRWA buildings in occupied Jerusalem. They have begun sending official notices in preparation for implementation, marking a new escalation targeting the agency's presence and its vital institutions within the city.
A statement issued by the Governorate on Monday evening indicated that notices to cut off electricity to UNRWA buildings located within the separation wall were delivered by the Israeli Electric Corporation. Implementation is scheduled to begin in 15 days, based on a law passed by the Israeli Knesset on December 30 of last year. The governorate added that the Israeli company Gihon also sent separate notices to cut off water supplies to properties operated by UNRWA in Jerusalem.
Initial assessments revealed that these measures affected ten UNRWA buildings, including schools, clinics, training centers, and administrative offices, among them the agency's main office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. This threatens serious repercussions for the educational, health, and relief services provided to Palestinian refugees in the city.
It is worth noting that the Israeli Knesset gave final approval to this law at the end of December in its second and third readings, by a vote of 59 to 7. This move constitutes a clear violation of the UN Charter, international law, and resolutions of international legitimacy, most notably General Assembly Resolution 302, which established UNRWA to ensure the provision of services to Palestinian refugees until a just solution to their plight is reached.
UNRWA provides services to more than 110,000 refugees in Jerusalem. The UN agency operates two refugee camps: Shuafat camp in the east of the city, which was established in 1965 and is home to about 16,500 registered refugees, and Qalandia camp in the north of the city, which was established in 1949 and is home to about 16,400 registered refugees, according to data from UNRWA’s website.
K.T
