JERUSALEM, May 11, 2025 (WAFA) — Parents and students staged a protest on Sunday at the UNRWA-run Jerusalem Girls’ School in the town of Silwan, south of occupied Jerusalem, denouncing the Israeli occupation authorities' decision to shut down the school.

Protesters held signs reading, “Our children have the right to education – open the school doors,” “There is no alternative place for our children,” and “Jerusalem Girls’ School must remain open,” affirming their demand to protect students’ right to learn.

The protest follows Thursday’s raid by Israeli forces on multiple UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, during which students, teachers, and administrative staff were forcibly removed. The closure order for six UNRWA schools officially went into effect that day.

The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate has condemned the closures, calling them a blatant assault on a UN agency protected under international law and an attack on the right of more than 800 students to receive an education.

Israeli authorities had issued formal notices on April 8 to three schools in Shuafat refugee camp and one school each in Sur Baher, Silwan, and Wadi al-Joz, banning any access to the buildings as of May 8 — including principals, teachers, staff, and parents.

UNRWA has warned that the enforcement of these closures will deny 800 Palestinian children their basic right to education, constituting a violation of Israel’s obligations under international law.

The closures follow an October 2024 Israeli Knesset law banning all UNRWA operations within Israel and occupied East Jerusalem.

M.N