U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued a sharp critique of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other members of the Israeli government following a recent raid on a UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) facility located in East Jerusalem. The raid, which targeted the agency's headquarters, has drawn international attention and renewed debate regarding the Israeli government's stance toward the UN organization.

In a statement posted to social media, Senator Van Hollen characterized the actions of Ben-Gvir and his political allies as a deliberate attempt to dismantle UNRWA. According to Van Hollen, the ultimate goal of these officials is to eliminate the legal recognition of Palestinian refugees. He urged the international community to take a more active role in protecting the agency from these political pressures, stating that the world should not remain passive as these events unfold.

While the Senator’s comments focus on the political motivations behind the raid, the report from Middle East Eye frames the incident within the context of ongoing tensions regarding the status of East Jerusalem and the future of humanitarian aid operations in the region. The Israeli government has previously accused UNRWA of harboring ties to militant groups, a claim the agency denies, though this specific point of contention was not addressed in the Senator's recent remarks.