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Around 800 Palestinian children to lose schools in Israeli crackdown, warns UN
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<span class="field field-title">Around 800 Palestinian children to lose schools in Israeli crackdown, warns UN</span>
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<div class="field field-field-text"><p>The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) says six of its schools in occupied East Jerusalem will shut by the 8th November, stripping 800 Palestinian children of their right to education.</p>
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<p><strong>Violation of international law</strong>: Roland Friedrich, UNRWA’s West Bank director, stated the move “threatens children’s futures” and breaches Israel’s legal obligations.</p>
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<p><strong>Communities at risk</strong>: Schools in Shuafat camp, Silwan, Wadi al-Joz, and Sur Baher—operating for decades—face closure, forcing students to travel farther or drop out.</p>
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<p><strong>Girls’ futures in jeopardy</strong>: Friedrich highlighted fears among female students, noting, “Dreams of becoming doctors or scientists could vanish overnight.”</p>
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<p><strong>Political crackdown</strong>: The closures follow Israel’s October 2024 laws banning Unrwa activities, revoking its privileges, and barring official contact—measures enacted in January 2025.</p>
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<p><strong>Palestinian condemnation</strong>: The Foreign Ministry called it a “blatant violation” of UN immunity, accusing Israel of forcing its curriculum on Palestinian students.</p>
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