"Dismantling UNRWA in the absence of a viable alternative will deprive Palestinian children of learning in the foreseeable future,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated, warning that without access to education, children are vulnerable to exploitation, including potential recruitment by armed groups.
Lazzarini emphasized that education for Palestinian children has been left out of discussions by experts and politicians advocating for an alternative to UNRWA, which provides schooling for 300,000 children in Gaza—half of the territory's school-age population—and nearly 50,000 children in the West Bank.
The Israeli Knesset formally approved a ban on UNRWA’s activities, citing alleged complicity by agency employees in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and accusing its education programs of promoting extremism. UNRWA, headquartered in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, refuted the accusations, asserting its neutrality and humanitarian focus.
The UN agency warned that Gaza’s children are facing their second consecutive year without schooling. “Without learning, this region will remain unstable and volatile. Without UNRWA, the fate of millions of people will hang by a thread,” said Lazzarini.
The ban was condemned by international organizations and Western nations, while the UN Security Council issued a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire amid a conflict that has seen over 43,300 fatalities, mostly women and children, and more than 102,000 injuries, according to Gaza health officials.
Israel’s actions in Gaza have led to a genocide case against it at the International Court of Justice. (ILKHA)
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