Tensions Rise as Israel Orders Closure of UN-Run Schools in East Jerusalem
In a move drawing sharp criticism from the international community, Israeli authorities have ordered the closure of several schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem. The decision comes amid escalating tensions over the Israeli government's stance on the presence and operations of UN institutions in the contested area.
According to UN officials, at least seven UNRWA-run schools serving thousands of Palestinian students in East Jerusalem were issued closure notices by Israeli officials earlier this week. The closures are set to take effect by the end of the current academic year.
Israeli officials justified the move by arguing that schools operating under foreign bodies like UNRWA compromise the state’s sovereignty in what they regard as the undivided capital of Israel. In a statement, Israel's Ministry of Education said the government aims to replace UNRWA-run schools with institutions that follow the Israeli national curriculum.
"This decision is about asserting Israeli law and ensuring our students receive a curriculum that fosters coexistence and unity under Israeli values," Education Minister Yoav Kisch said. He added that the state plans to gradually transition all East Jerusalem schools under direct government oversight.
Critics, however, say the closures are part of a broader attempt to erase Palestinian identity in the occupied eastern sector of the city.
UNRWA responded with strong condemnation, calling the move a violation of international law and an attack on Palestinian refugees' right to education. The agency, which has been operating in East Jerusalem since 1948, said the closures will disrupt education for nearly 3,000 students and leave hundreds of teachers unemployed.
"These actions are part of ongoing attempts to delegitimize the presence and role of UNRWA in East Jerusalem," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General. "We will not abandon our commitment to the students and families who rely on our services."
Lazzarini called on the international community to take urgent action to pressure Israel to reverse its decision.
Palestinian officials were quick to denounce the decision. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Education labeled the closures as a “blatant violation of human rights” and accused Israel of targeting Palestinian heritage and existence in Jerusalem.
Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian politician and former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, said the decision reflects “racist and colonial” policies.
"This is not about education. This is about uprooting Palestinians from Jerusalem, piece by piece," Ashrawi told reporters in Ramallah.
Following the announcement, protests erupted in several neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, including Silwan, Shuafat, and Sheikh Jarrah. Parents, students, and teachers gathered outside closed school gates holding signs reading “Education is our right” and “UNRWA schools protect our identity.”
At one protest near the UNRWA-run Dar Al-Aytam school in the Old City, tear gas was reportedly used by Israeli police to disperse demonstrators. Several people were detained, though no serious injuries were reported.
“We are not terrorists. We are teachers and students,” said Faten Abu Khdeir, a school principal who was among the protesters. “They want to silence us, but we will continue to fight for our children’s future.”
The international response to Israel’s decision has been swift. The European Union issued a statement expressing “deep concern” and urging Israeli authorities to reconsider. The EU has long been a major donor to UNRWA and views the agency’s work as vital to regional stability.
“The unilateral closure of educational facilities undermines the right to education and further complicates efforts toward a peaceful resolution,” the statement read.
The United States, while maintaining strong support for Israel, also expressed concern. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington is seeking “clarification” from Israel regarding the move.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also weighed in, saying he was “deeply troubled” by the development and called for the protection of UN personnel and operations.
UNRWA’s presence in East Jerusalem has long been a point of contention between Israeli authorities and the UN. While the UN considers East Jerusalem occupied territory and recognizes the right of Palestinians to receive services there, Israel views the city as its eternal and undivided capital following its annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967—a move not recognized internationally.
Israeli officials have accused UNRWA of perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by teaching a curriculum that includes Palestinian nationalist content and by promoting what they claim is an agenda of anti-Israel incitement—claims the UN agency strongly denies.
In recent years, efforts to curb UNRWA’s influence in Jerusalem have increased, including the establishment of Israeli-funded schools and services aimed at reducing Palestinian dependence on UN-run facilities.
The fate of the displaced students remains uncertain. While Israeli authorities have suggested that students can enroll in schools under the Jerusalem Municipality, many families fear that the curriculum in those schools will not reflect their heritage or teach Palestinian history and identity.
“We want our children to be educated, but not at the cost of losing who they are,” said Khadija Al-Tamimi, a parent whose two daughters attend an UNRWA school. “The UN is the only place where our kids feel safe and respected.”
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on Israel to halt the closures and allow independent monitoring of the educational transition.
As the end of the academic year approaches, families in East Jerusalem are left in limbo, facing the twin pressures of political conflict and educational uncertainty. While Israel frames the decision as a matter of law and sovereignty, Palestinians see it as yet another attempt to strip them of their rights in a city that remains a central flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Whether the schools will reopen under new administration or disappear altogether remains to be seen—but for now, the closure of these UNRWA-run schools stands as a potent symbol of the broader struggle for control, identity, and survival in East Jerusalem.
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