Israel Permanently Closes 6 UN Schools in East Jerusalem, Displacing 800+ Students
Israel shuttered six UN-run schools in East Jerusalem on Thursday, ejecting 550 pupils mid-class and jeopardizing education for over 800 Palestinian children, Arab News reported.
The closures follow a 30-day ultimatum issued last month by Israeli authorities, who accuse UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees) of teaching “antisemitic content” — a claim the agency denies.
Students must now transfer to other Jerusalem schools, but parents warn of overcrowding and checkpoint risks.
Israel banned UNRWA operations earlier this year, citing ties to Hamas after the 2023 Gaza war. Also, Israel claims the schools lacked licenses; UNRWA insists they operated legally under international mandates.
The Israeli Ministry of Education announces it will place the students into other Jerusalem schools. But parents, teachers and administrators caution that closing the main schools in east Jerusalem will force their children to go through crowded and dangerous checkpoints daily, and some do not have the correct permits to pass through.
East Jerusalem, annexed by Israel in 1967, remains a flashpoint. UNRWA serves 60,000 Palestinian refugees there, providing critical education and healthcare. The closures deepen hardships for families already navigating strict movement permits.
