Tensions have flared again in East Jerusalem after Israel ordered the shutdown of six UN-run schools, a move that will disrupt the education of around 800 Palestinian students. Many of these children have already been displaced by the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military, or IDF, gave the schools a 30-day deadline to stop operations. The schools are run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, better known as UNRWA.
This isn’t the first time Israel has clashed with the agency. In fact, Israeli lawmakers recently passed a law banning UNRWA from working within its borders — even though the agency is protected under international UN agreements.
The Israeli government claims that some UNRWA staff have ties to Hamas, and says the agency’s schools promote messages that sympathize with the militant group.
UNRWA has strongly denied these claims, stating that there’s no solid proof to suggest the organization is compromised. While a UN investigation did find a few biased examples in textbooks, it called them “marginal” and not reflective of the entire system.
Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s chief, shared his frustration on social media. He said the closures violate the legal protections given to UN institutions. He also stressed how harmful this is for the children involved — many of whom may not be able to finish their school year.
UNRWA schools operate in some of the toughest areas, including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Ministry of Education said parents should now enroll their kids in other schools. It also claimed it’s working to make sure no child is left without an education.
UNRWA has been around since 1950 and started off helping around 750,000 Palestinian refugees. Today, it supports nearly 6 million people across the region, including 1.7 million in war-torn Gaza and nearly 900,000 more in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
