Israel to establish IDF museum at former UNRWA Jerusalem headquarters

Israel to Establish IDF Museum at Former UNRWA Jerusalem Headquarters

The Israeli Cabinet is expected to approve plans next week to establish an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) museum at the Jerusalem compound formerly occupied by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Centralizing Military and Defense Operations

Beyond the museum, the site is slated to house significant military infrastructure. The army’s recruitment center in the capital, currently located in the Romema neighborhood, is expected to relocate to the new compound. Additionally, a bureau for the defense minister is planned for the site, according to reports from Ynet. The government is scheduled to finalize the measure on May 17, coinciding with the observation of Jerusalem Day.

The Closure of UNRWA in Israel

This development follows the Knesset’s passage of legislation on Oct. 28, 2024, which effectively banned UNRWA from operating within Israel. The move was a direct response to the agency’s complicity in the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023. Despite significant diplomatic pressure from the United States and other international stakeholders to maintain the agency’s presence, Israel proceeded with the legislation.

The law officially took effect on Jan. 30, 2025, triggering the immediate closure of the agency’s primary offices in the Ma’alot Dafna and Kafr Aqab neighborhoods of northeastern Jerusalem. Shortly thereafter, Israeli authorities initiated the demolition of the headquarters.

State Ownership and Future Land Use

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein previously confirmed that the Jewish state maintains ownership of the compound, which is currently under the administration of the Israel Land Authority. Once the new IDF recruitment center in the northeastern compound is fully operational, the current facility in the Romema neighborhood is slated to be returned to the Israel Land Authority for future use.