The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has sounded the alarm over Israeli orders to close six of its schools in occupied East Jerusalem, a move that would strip 800 Palestinian children of their right to education.

Speaking on Wednesday, Roland Friedrich, UNRWA’s Director of West Bank Affairs, described the looming closures—expected within days—as a clear violation of international law and a direct attack on the basic rights of Palestinian children. The schools, located in areas including Shuafat camp and Silwan, are among the few educational lifelines available to Palestinian communities long denied equal access to services under occupation.

“These schools represent more than classrooms,” Friedrich said. “They are safe spaces where children, especially girls, are encouraged to dream of a better future—as doctors, scientists, or teachers. This order threatens to extinguish those dreams.”

The closure orders follow two controversial laws passed by the Israeli Knesset in October 2024, effectively banning UNRWA from operating in the occupied territories. The legislation came into force in January 2025, revoking all existing permits and placing the agency’s work in East Jerusalem under serious threat.

While international pressure mounts, Israeli authorities have shown no sign of reversing course, leaving the education of hundreds of Palestinian students hanging in the balance. UNRWA has called on world governments to intervene urgently to protect the right to education in one of the world’s most contested cities.