Parents and students staged a sit-in on Sunday at the UNRWA Jerusalem Girls School in the town of Silwan, south of occupied Jerusalem, to protest the closure of the school by Israeli occupation authorities.

The protesters held up slogans including: "Our children have the right to learn. Open the school doors," "There is no alternative place for our children," "The Jerusalem Girls School must remain open," and "Our right to education."

Last Thursday, Israeli occupation forces stormed UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, forcing students, teaching staff, and administrative personnel to evacuate immediately. The decision to close six UNRWA schools came into effect.

The Jerusalem Governorate considered the occupation authorities' closure of UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, where more than 800 male and female students receive their legitimate right to education, a blatant attack on a UN institution that enjoys immunity and privileges guaranteed and protected by international laws and agreements.

The governor added: "This unjust decision constitutes a dangerous escalation in the systematic attack led by the occupation authorities aimed at undermining the role of UNRWA as a gateway to liquidating the Palestinian refugee issue and abolishing the right of return. This constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions."

For its part, UNRWA stated that the closure of schools in East Jerusalem is a serious violation of the United Nations' privileges and immunities, and a traumatic experience for children who face the immediate loss of their right to education, as the current school year continues until June 20, 2025.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education also condemned the occupation's closure of UNRWA schools in occupied Jerusalem.

The ministry noted that this attack constitutes a crime against education and is part of a systematic and ongoing assault on education in Jerusalem. It contravenes international norms and laws, most notably the right to education and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Ministry of Education renewed its call for international institutions, primarily UNESCO and UNICEF, to assume their responsibilities and defend refugee children's right to a free and safe education. The Ministry noted that this targeting of other schools will continue if the occupation is not deterred and its war on education in Jerusalem is not halted.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the Israeli occupation authorities' decision to close UNRWA schools, considering it part of illegal measures and policies targeting the agency's presence and role, particularly in Jerusalem, as part of its unacceptable attempts to liquidate the Palestinian refugee issue and their inherent right of return.

On April 8, the occupation authorities issued a decision to three schools in the Shuafat refugee camp, and one school each in Sur Baher, Silwan, and Wadi al-Joz, prohibiting anyone from entering the school building after May 8, 2025, including principals, teachers, staff, and parents.

UNRWA stated that the occupation's implementation of its decision to close the six schools would deprive 800 children of their right to education, which constitutes a violation of Israel's obligations under international law.

In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Israel.