Israeli occupation forces raided UNRWA schools in the Shuafat camp, northeast of Jerusalem, on Thursday morning, forcing students and teaching staff to leave the buildings. The decision to close six schools came into effect.

The Jerusalem Governorate reported in an official statement that Israeli police forces stormed school grounds and surrounding areas amid heightened tensions and fears of potential attacks on students and teachers, a move it considered a systematic escalation against Palestinian educational institutions in the city.

The governorate explained that the Israeli decision directly affects more than 800 male and female students, depriving them of their legitimate right to education. She noted that targeting UNRWA schools constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and an assault on a UN institution that enjoys immunity and legal privileges.

The governorate asserted that this step comes within the framework of ongoing Israeli efforts to undermine the role of UNRWA and obscure the refugee issue, paving the way for the abolition of the right of return. It described the decision as "dangerous and racist," embodying the policy of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing practiced by the occupation authorities against Jerusalemites.

The Jerusalem Governorate called on the international community, led by the United Nations and the Human Rights Council, to urgently intervene to halt Israeli measures and work to reopen schools immediately, ensuring students can continue their education without hindrance or conditions.

The governorate also called on the city's residents, civil society institutions, and national forces to oppose the decision using all legal means, emphasizing that education is a sacred right that cannot be violated, and that the occupation's attempts to obliterate the national identity will be met with the steadfastness and resilience of the Palestinian people.

On April 8, the occupation authorities issued closure orders to three schools in the Shuafat refugee camp, and to one school each in Sur Baher, Silwan, and Wadi al-Joz. These orders prohibit anyone from entering school buildings after May 8, 2025, including administrators, teachers, students, and parents.

These developments come after the Israeli Knesset passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA activities within Israeli-controlled territories. The UN agency considered this a direct threat to Palestinian children's right to education and a violation of Israel's obligations as an occupying power under international law.