### Israeli security forces' abrupt closure of three schools in Shuafat refugee camp sparks international condemnation, highlighting ongoing tensions over education rights in East Jerusalem.
### Tensions Rise as Israeli Forces Close UN Schools in East Jerusalem
### Tensions Rise as Israeli Forces Close UN Schools in East Jerusalem
### Palestinian students sent home as Israeli authorities enforce closure of UNRWA-operated schools.
Armed Israeli security personnel forcibly closed three schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem, sending hundreds of Palestinian students home shortly after classes commenced on Thursday morning.
This move drew sharp rebuke from UNRWA's Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, who accused Israeli authorities of undermining the fundamental right to education and displaying a "blatant disregard for international law." The closure comes as part of an ongoing Israeli ban on UNRWA, which officials accuse of being associated with Hamas, a charge the agency categorically denies while asserting its impartial stance.
Videos captured outside a Shuafat school showed girls in uniforms embracing one another as they left, following the deployment of Israeli forces in their vicinity. A closure order affixed to the school's wall announced a prohibition on the operation of educational institutions, barring teachers from performing their duties and preventing students from entering the premises.
According to UNRWA, over 550 pupils aged between six to fifteen were present during the incident, while one staff member was reportedly detained, leading to traumatic implications for the affected children and fears over their educational access.
In addition to the Shuafat closures, reports indicate that Israeli police presence at three other schools in East Jerusalem compelled those institutions to send their students home as well. Lazzarini voiced his concerns over these actions on social media, emphasizing that schools should remain inviolate per UN protocols.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the closures, framing them as a violation of children's educational rights, while the British consulate in Jerusalem voiced solidarity with those impacted. It highlighted a coalition of countries, including the UK, EU, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Japan, that oppose the closure directives against UNRWA schools.
Historically, UNRWA has been operating in East Jerusalem since its inception in 1950, and it is argued by international law that Israel is obliged to facilitate these educational institutions. Tensions have only escalated since the Israeli parliamentary decisions last year to restrict involvement with UNRWA, following the annexation of East Jerusalem, which remains unrecognized by the majority of the global community. Palestinians continue to view East Jerusalem as the envisioned capital of their future state, amidst a demographic presence of approximately 230,000 Israeli settlers alongside 390,000 Palestinians.
