Israel criticised for shutting UNRWA schools in Jerusalem

The Israeli government ordered six UNRWA schools in occupied East Jerusalem to shut down within 30 days, according to Al Jazeera on April 8th.

The Muslim World League condemned this move as part of “systematic violations” against Palestinian rights and humanitarian bodies, Middle East Eye reported on April 10th.

Israeli police, accompanied by Ministry of Education officials, entered schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The schools are located in Shuafat, Silwan, Sur Baher and Wadi al-Joz.

“If we are forced to close, the consequences will be dire as the children will be deprived of their basic right to education, which will exacerbate their suffering and negatively affect their future,” said Abir Ismail, director of UNRWA’s information office.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that the orders violate international law. The agency currently provides humanitarian aid to approximately 750,000 Palestinians.

The Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa said: “Every living conscience around the world calls for an end to the Israeli government’s war machine and the implementation of international and humanitarian law in response to this brutal genocide being perpetrated against Palestinian civilians in full view of the international community.”

Israeli lawmakers passed a bill last year banning UNRWA from operating on Israeli territory. Israel accuses UNRWA staff of involvement in the October 7th 2023 Hamas-led attacks, an allegation the UN strongly denies.

Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh said Israel has intensified its ban on the agency since launching its “Iron Wall” military operation in the West Bank earlier this year.

Odeh warned that school closures could push students into Israeli-run institutions, removing them from the Palestinian curriculum. “It is an Israeli-run curriculum that Palestinians say ignores and erases Palestinian identity,” she said.

She added that the move could have a “crippling effect” on UNRWA’s operations in 19 refugee camps across the West Bank, where the agency also provides health and psychosocial support.

Israeli attacks on Gaza recently killed five UNRWA workers, Middle East Eye via Reuters reported on March 20th. Lazzarini said: “They were teachers, doctors and nurses: serving the most vulnerable.”

Middle East Eye, Al-Jazeera