RAMALLAH, January 23, 2026 (WAFA) - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education strongly condemned the Israeli occupation authorities' measures in preventing an international delegation of education unions, comprising high-level union representatives from 15 countries, from entering Palestine today, Friday, through the al-Karama/King Hussein Bridge border crossing and detaining its members for several hours.
The Ministry affirmed that this repressive measure constitutes a blatant attack on academic freedoms and another example of "intellectual annihilation" aimed at undermining the foundations of collective national awareness and identity.
It added that this systematic prevention clearly aims to impose a complete siege on the Palestinian educational system and isolate it from its international solidarity base, to prevent the exposure of the occupation's policies. These policies coincide with a frenzied escalation targeting education across Palestine, from the comprehensive destruction of educational institutions in the Gaza Strip and the denial of even the most basic necessities to field schools, to the daily raids on schools in Hebron and the disruption of the educational process in Tulkarm and Jenin for the second year in a row.
It further stated that targeting this delegation exposes the falsehood of the occupation's claims and reveals its fear of the truth that free teachers and academics carry to the world. The delegation was invited by the General Union of Palestinian Teachers to participate in the "Summit of Solidarity with Palestinian Education," scheduled for tomorrow to coincide with the International Day of Education, as well as in a workshop addressing the Israeli incitement campaigns against the Palestinian curriculum.
The Ministry called upon the international community, human rights organizations, and UN agencies – particularly UNESCO- to take a firm and decisive stance in criminalizing these violations, which flagrantly violate all international conventions.
It commended the principled position of international unions that have insisted on maintaining the message of solidarity and advocacy, affirming that attempts to suppress the Palestinian narrative and besiege education will only strengthen our resolve to protect our national rights and build the future of our generations on our land.
K.F.
