Israeli authorities order closure of Jerusalem's Unrwa schools
Israeli authorities have ordered the closure of several schools run by the UN agency for Palestine refugees (Unrwa) in Jerusalem, marking the latest move in a series of targeted restrictions against the agency.
Unrwa's commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, said on Tuesday that Israeli officials and security forces raided six Unrwa schools in occupied East Jerusalem, issuing closure orders to take effect within 30 days.
"Unrwa schools are protected by the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. Today’s unauthorised entries and issuance of closure orders are a violation of these protections + represent a revocation of Israel’s obligations under international law," Lazzarini wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Unrwa is committed to stay and deliver education and other basic services to Palestine Refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution mandated to the Agency."
The UN agency provides services to over 110,000 refugees in Jerusalem, with significant operations in the Shuafat and Qalandiya refugee camps.
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According to the Palestinian news agency Arab48, four of the targeted schools are located in the Shuafat refugee camp, one of the few camps within the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem.
Unrwa has for decades run schools and medical clinics in East Jerusalem, which Israel seized in the 1967 war.
Israeli forces raided the schools, checked the identities of staff and issued fines to vehicles on the property, according to local sources.
اقتحمت قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، صباح اليوم الاثنين، مدارس تتبع لوكالة الأمم المتحدة لإغاثة وتشغيل اللاجئين الفلسطينيين (الأونروا) في مخيم شعفاط بالقدس المحتلة.
— الجزيرة نت | قدس (@Aljazeeraquds) April 8, 2025
وأفادت مصادر للجزيرة أن شرطة الاحتلال بلغت جميع مديري مدارس الأونروا بمخيم شعفاط في القدس بأوامر إغلاق خلال 30 يوما،… pic.twitter.com/D78riSxClY
The closure of the six schools will directly affect around 800 children, who may be unable to complete their school year.
“If we are forced to close, the consequences will be dire as the children will be deprived of their basic right to education, which will exacerbate their suffering and negatively affect their future,” said Abir Ismail, director of Unrwa's information office.
Ban on Unrwa operations
Unrwa is the leading UN agency operating on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, handling almost all the UN aid distribution in the enclave.
The agency serves around 5.9 million people in Palestine and neighbouring countries Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, mostly in refugee camps.
Israel pilloried the UN agency for years, with attempts to ban its operations beginning at least two decades ago when Unrwa built a complex in Jerusalem.
After 7 October 2023, Israel accelerated its campaign against Unrwa. The organisation was dealt several blows, including Israeli attacks on its facilities in Gaza.
Israel insists that Hamas has used Unrwa facilitates as bases.
Palestinians, on the other hand, stress that Israel sees Unrwa as an existential threat because the organisation recognises Palestinian refugees, and has stated its support for the right of return of their descendants.
The vast majority of Unrwa facilities, like schools and health clinics, have been used as shelters by hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians during the war on Gaza. The Israeli strikes there have been especially bloody.
At least 280 UN humanitarian personnel have been killed in the over 18-month war on the besieged enclave.
In late January, Israel's banning of Unrwa came into effect, causing worry and fear amongst Palestinians across the occupied territory.
The two Knesset laws targeting Unrwa prohibit the agency's work within "areas under Israeli sovereignty" and ban any contact with the agency.
The Israeli law says the ban on the UN agency includes occupied East Jerusalem, though it is recognised internationally as occupied Palestinian territory.
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