Thu May 08 20:38:25 UTC 2025: ## Israel Shuts Down Six UN Schools in East Jerusalem, Displacing Hundreds of Palestinian Students
**Jerusalem, May 9, 2025** – Israel has permanently closed six United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools in East Jerusalem, leaving over 800 Palestinian students without a place to learn. The closures, effective Thursday, follow a 30-day closure order issued last month by Israeli police and Education Ministry officials. This action comes after Israel banned UNRWA from operating within its borders earlier this year, escalating tensions following the October 2023 Hamas attacks.
The Israeli government claims the schools promoted antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment, a claim UNRWA denies. UNRWA, the primary provider of education and healthcare for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem, maintains that the schools were operating legally. The Ministry of Education stated the closures were due to unlicensed operation and has pledged to place the displaced students in other Jerusalem schools.
However, parents, teachers, and administrators express serious concerns. They warn that transferring students to alternative schools will force children to navigate crowded and potentially dangerous checkpoints daily, with some lacking the necessary permits. Students themselves described emotional distress and uncertainty about their future.
Layan Ramadan Nataheh, a student at one of the closed schools, described her heartbreak at leaving her teachers and the fear of an uncertain future. Shujan Abu Remailah, a resident of the Shufat refugee camp, highlighted the negative impact of the closures on students’ morale and prospects.
The closure of these schools represents a significant escalation in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and raises serious questions about the future of Palestinian education in East Jerusalem. The situation has sparked international concern and further underscores the complex humanitarian challenges in the region.
First Piper 