UNRWA chief Christian Saunders said the agency will continue its work for Palestinian refugees despite Israel’s takeover of the Qalandiya Training Centre. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Saunders said UNRWA has no plans to leave and will continue providing humanitarian and public services until the UN General Assembly decides otherwise or a permanent solution to the Palestinian question is reached.

Israeli authorities have said the Qalandiya centre belongs to the Jewish National Fund and had been allocated to the Jerusalem municipality for a planned complex. They also cited a law passed in October 2024 that restricts UNRWA’s activities. UNRWA firmly rejected those claims, saying the training centre is a United Nations facility protected under international law.

Saunders said the UN General Assembly had directly assigned UNRWA its mandate to provide humanitarian assistance, development work and essential services while the political crisis remains unresolved. He said the agency is taking steps to protect staff and facilities after the Israeli operation, including security assessments, staff training and risk-reduction measures. He also criticised the use of force at UN premises and called for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.