EAST JERUSALEM – Israeli security forces today forcibly closed six schools in East Jerusalem operated by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), escalating tensions in the already fraught city. The move, impacting hundreds of Palestinian students, comes months after Israel officially banned UNRWA from operating on its soil, accusing the agency of harboring anti-Israel sentiment and ties to terror groups – allegations UNRWA vehemently denies.
Heavily armed Israeli police and Education Ministry officials arrived at the UNRWA-run schools in the Shuafat refugee camp and other neighborhoods early Thursday morning, ordering the immediate evacuation of students and staff. According to UNRWA, at least one staff member was detained during the operation.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, condemned the closures as a “blatant disregard of international law” and an “assault on children” and their right to education. In a statement posted on X, Lazzarini asserted that the schools are “inviolable premises of the United Nations.”
Closure orders, written in Hebrew and affixed to school entrances, stated that the operation of educational institutions, the employment of staff, and the entry of students were prohibited, effective today. UNRWA reported that over 550 students, some as young as six, were present at three of the affected schools in Shuafat camp when the closures were enforced.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of distress and confusion as students were forced to leave their classrooms. Some children were seen hugging teachers and crying, uncertain about their educational future.
The Israeli Ministry of Education stated that the closures were due to the schools operating without the necessary licenses. However, this justification has been met with skepticism by Palestinians and international observers, who view the action as the culmination of a sustained campaign by Israel against UNRWA.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the closures as a “violation of children’s right to education” and called on international institutions to intervene. The British consulate in Jerusalem, along with representatives from the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Japan, issued a joint statement strongly opposing the closure orders and expressing solidarity with the affected students, parents, and teachers.
UNRWA, which has been providing essential services to Palestinian refugees for over 70 years, has long faced scrutiny from Israeli authorities. Tensions intensified following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, with Israel alleging the involvement of some UNRWA staff members – claims the agency is investigating but denies systemic complicity.
While the Israeli government claims it will place the displaced students in other Jerusalem schools, concerns remain about the logistical challenges and potential discrimination these students may face. Parents and educators caution that the closures could force children to navigate crowded and potentially dangerous checkpoints daily, with some lacking the permits required to pass through.
The forced closure of UNRWA-run schools marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, further jeopardizing the already fragile situation and raising serious concerns about the future of Palestinian education in the contested city.