Occupied Jerusalem is witnessing a dangerous new assault—not on fighters, but on schoolchildren. On Thursday, Israeli forces raided six UN-run schools in Shuafat refugee camp and nearby neighbourhoods, forcibly evicting students and teachers as part of a sweeping ban against UNRWA operations in the city.

The closures, which came into effect on 8 May, mark the first enforcement of a 2024 Israeli law designed to dismantle the UN agency’s presence in areas under occupation. Witnesses described scenes of panic as heavily armed officers descended on the schools, scattering children and leaving communities reeling.

Nearly 800 students are now without classrooms. For families in Shuafat, Sur Baher, Silwan and Wadi al-Joz, the loss cuts deep. These schools were more than places of learning—they were sanctuaries of stability in a city where life for Palestinians is already under constant threat.

UNRWA has condemned the closures as a direct violation of international law. The agency's West Bank director, Roland Friedrich, stressed that this act not only denies children their right to education, but also breaks Israel’s legal obligations as an occupying power.

Palestinians see this move as part of a wider policy to erase refugee identity, marginalise Palestinian institutions, and tighten Israeli control over East Jerusalem. By targeting schools, Israel is not just attacking infrastructure—it is attacking the future of an entire people.

In a place where every inch of ground is contested, even a classroom becomes a frontline.