The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reaffirmed on Wednesday that its mandate originates from the UN General Assembly and cannot be altered or terminated by any single member state.
اضافة اعلان
According to its official website, Abir Ismail, head of UNRWA's media office in the West Bank and Jerusalem, stated that UNRWA is a UN agency whose facilities and personnel are protected under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
Despite Israeli threats to shut them down, UNRWA’s six schools in East Jerusalem continue to operate. Ismail warned that being forced to close them would set a dangerous precedent that could end UNRWA's historical presence in East Jerusalem, jeopardizing access to education for around 800 students with no viable alternatives in already overcrowded schools.
She explained that Israeli efforts to close these schools align with a broader goal of implementing recent Knesset legislation aimed at eliminating UNRWA's presence in Jerusalem, which began with an eviction notice for UNRWA's Sheikh Jarrah office, now followed by closure threats to schools.
Ismail stressed that such actions constitute a blatant violation of international law and UN principles. She urged urgent international intervention to stop Israel’s ongoing violations, settlement plans, and efforts to erase the city’s Palestinian identity.
Israeli authorities reportedly issued closure notices to UNRWA-run schools in Shuafat Camp, Sur Baher, Wadi al-Joz, and Silwan on March 8, giving them 30 days to comply, following recent legislative efforts by the Israeli parliament to dismantle UNRWA operations.
