Israel orders closure of 6 UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem

Credit: Xinhua/NAN

Israel has ordered the closure of six schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem, Palestinian authorities have said.

The UN agency said the security forces entered the six schools and gave “illegal” closure orders effective in 30 days.

It said the school closure directly impacted some 800 boys and girls, who will likely be unable to finish their school year

UNRWA schools are protected by the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, said the UNRWA on the social media platform X.

It noted that unauthorised entries into the schools and issuance of closure orders violate the protections and “represent a revocation of Israel’s obligations under international law.”

“These illegal closure orders come in the wake of Israeli Knesset (parliament) legislation seeking to curtail UNRWA operations,” it said.

The Palestinian government also called on the UN to take immediate steps to protect UNRWA institutions in East Jerusalem.

It warned that the closure orders threaten to dismantle vital educational and service infrastructure in violation of international law.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to coordinating with international stakeholders to uphold UNRWA’s mandate and ensure its continuity.

It called for intensified global efforts to protect the rights of Palestinian refugees and support the agency’s work until a just resolution is reached based on UN resolutions.