SAFA- A Scottish educators’ group, has rejected legal and political pressure to stop teaching about Palestine and the Gaza genocide, insisting it will continue to present the issue based on evidence, international law, and the findings of recognized international institutions.

The group, Teachers for Peace in Scotland, issued the statement after the pro-Israel organization UK Lawyers for Israel submitted a 50-page legal dossier to the Scottish government, local authorities, and education bodies. 

The complaint accused the group of introducing “politically biased” content into schools and using educational materials it described as “anti-Israel.”

In response, Teachers for Peace Scotland launched an open letter calling on teachers and academics to stand in solidarity, arguing that the allegations misrepresent both its work and the educational resources it provides. The group said its materials are designed to promote peace, justice, and human rights rather than political advocacy.

The dispute attracted widespread media attention after The Times published two reports based on the organization’s allegations. One accused the group of attempting to influence students in Scottish schools, while the other focused on educator Sarah Alouissi, criticizing her participation in the opening of the Scottish Parliament at the invitation of a Scottish Green Party lawmaker and suggesting the group’s influence within educational and political institutions was expanding.

In an official statement, Teachers for Peace Scotland categorically rejected all allegations, stressing that its work is grounded in evidence-based education and does not violate the principle of professional neutrality.

The group argued that there is a fundamental distinction between presenting verified facts with integrity and adopting a form of neutrality that treats established evidence and unsupported claims as equally credible.

Teachers for Peace Scotland also noted that it had organized professional development sessions over the past year exploring the meaning of neutrality in education and the responsibility of teachers to advance social justice. 

Drawing historical comparisons, the group said the teaching of recognized genocides, including those in Rwanda and Srebrenica, relies on historical evidence rather than giving equal weight to the narratives of perpetrators. It argued that the same educational approach should apply when teaching about the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza.

The educators also cited the findings of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded in September 2025 that there were reasonable grounds to believe Israel had committed acts amounting to genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The group said teachers have the right to rely on the conclusions of credible international institutions while making clear that some governments continue to dispute those findings and that international legal proceedings remain ongoing.