Israel seizes Kalandia vocational training centre, UNRWA warns impact on Palestinian youth

The Israeli military seized a vocational training centre in East Jerusalem on Thursday, halting operations that had provided technical courses to hundreds of Palestinian youths. The facility, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, had been run by a local non‑profit since 2015 and offered training in fields such as carpentry, electrical work and digital design.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the closure was carried out under a security directive that cited “unlawful activity” on the premises. Palestinian community leaders argue that the seizure was politically motivated, as the centre had recently partnered with international NGOs to expand its curriculum. The loss of the training hub means many young people now face a gap in skills that could have helped them secure employment in a region where job prospects are limited.

The incident has drawn criticism from human rights organisations, which warn that restricting vocational education exacerbates economic hardship for Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The Israeli authorities have not yet announced a replacement programme, leaving the future of the displaced trainees uncertain.