Hundreds of Palestinians out of school as Israel closes UNRWA schools in east Jerusalem | DW News

Key Concepts

• Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: New aid system in Gaza backed by Israel and the United States.
• UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
• Shufat camp: Refugee camp in Jerusalem.
• Colonial education: Israeli curriculum imposed on Palestinians.
• Digital surveillance: Increased monitoring of Palestinians since October 7th.

Gaza Aid System

• A new aid system in Gaza, backed by Israel and the United States, has opened its first distribution hubs.
• The "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" claims to have delivered 170 truckloads of food.
• Many of Gaza's 2 million residents face severe food shortages due to Israel's blockade.
• Critics, including the United Nations, argue the system will hinder food delivery to hungry Palestinians.
• Security and logistics at the hubs are managed by armed US private contractors.
• Palestinians must show ID to receive rations.
• The system replaces UN-coordinated aid distribution networks.
• Israel claims the new system is necessary to prevent Hamas from stealing supplies.
• The UN does not want to be part of this system because Israel, being a party to the war, has the upper hand in aid distribution and logistics.
• At least 500 trucks per day are needed to enter Gaza, not including fuel trucks.

UNRWA School Closures in East Jerusalem

• Israel has shut down several UNRWA schools in occupied East Jerusalem.
• The schools are in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, where Israel claims jurisdictional control, though this is not internationally recognized.
• The closures affect approximately 800 students.
• The official reason given by Israel is to integrate Palestinians into Israeli public schools.
• Moner Marij, an advocate for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, argues that there are no alternatives and that Israel is trying to impose "colonial education" to erase Palestinian identity and replace it with an Israeli one.
• The "colonial education" seeks to control the minds of the Palestinians and prospectively to annihilate the longed for desire for self-determination.
• Ahad Otman, a teacher at UNRWA for three decades, fears the consequences of students being out of school, potentially leading to involvement in drugs, weapons, and gangs.
• Private schools are an alternative, but unaffordable for most in Shufat camp.
• Former UNRWA teachers are voluntarily teaching children in makeshift centers, but the certificates may not be officially recognized by Israel.
• There is increasing fear among Palestinians about the future, including concerns about access to Israeli public schools and increased digital surveillance since October 7th.
• Students are concerned about sharing Palestinian identity and history.
• The school closures are seen as part of a larger pattern of collective punishment against Palestinians for the events of October 7th.

Shufat Refugee Camp

• Shufat is the only refugee camp in Jerusalem.
• Life in the camp is marked by poverty, unemployment, and frequent Israeli raids.
• Three of the six UNRWA schools are in Shufat camp.

Conclusion

The report highlights two key issues: the controversial new aid system in Gaza and the closure of UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem. The aid system, while intended to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, faces criticism for potentially hindering aid delivery and giving Israel too much control. The UNRWA school closures raise concerns about the future of Palestinian education, identity, and the potential for increased instability in the Shufat refugee camp. The situation is exacerbated by fears of digital surveillance and a sense of collective punishment among Palestinians.