Attachments
OVERVIEW
Since the second half of 2022, the education sector in the West Bank (WB), including East Jerusalem (EJ), has faced a steadily worsening crisis, driven by escalating violence, structural discrimination, and growing restrictions. Attacks on students, educators, and school infrastructure sharply increased in 2023 and reached alarming levels throughout 2024 and into 2025, particularly in the wake of the events of 7 October 2023. This period has been marked by widespread Israeli military operations, a surge in settler violence, and intensifying displacement and demolitions—all of which have severely hindered Palestinian children’s safe access to education.
Students and teachers have faced increasing levels of violence, harassment, detention, and intimidation. Many schools have been raided, vandalized, or damaged, while fear and trauma have impacted school attendance and learning outcomes. Checkpoints, settler violence, and mobility restrictions continue to obstruct daily commutes, placing students at constant risk and leading to reduced access, especially in vulnerable areas.
Throughout 2024, the Ministry of Education reported a rise in attacks involving armed settlers near schools, live fire around classrooms, and harassment or detention of students and staff, creating a climate of fear and instability. In the 2024–2025 academic year, repeated Israeli military operations—particularly in northern West Bank areas—forced many schools to close for short periods or shift to online learning, disrupting education for thousands and impacting its continuity and quality.
In 2025, the Israeli Knesset’s adoption and enforcement of legislation restricting the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has had a significant impact on access to education. As part of this enforcement, six UNRWA-run schools in East Jerusalem were sealed off, depriving hundreds of refugee and marginalized students of essential educational services. This action further eroded already fragile educational access and represents a direct threat to vulnerable populations who depend on UNRWA for basic services.
In parallel, the systematic targeting of Palestinian schools—particularly in Area C and EJ—has continued. As of June 2025, 84 schools face pending demolition orders, with the majority located outside of Master Plans, increasing their vulnerability. These include both full and partial demolition threats. Many more schools, though not under active orders, remain at serious risk due to legal, political, and zoning pressures*. These efforts appear to form part of a broader strategy aimed at displacing Palestinian communities and undermining education as a stabilizing social structure.
The right to education is enshrined in international humanitarian and human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As the occupying power, Israel holds the legal obligation to facilitate the functioning of institutions devoted to the care and education of children. The demolition, confiscation, or targeting of schools, as well as threats and attacks against students and educators, constitute Grave Violations against Children as defined by the UN Security Council in multiple resolutions (1539, 1612, 1998, 2427, 2601). These actions also violate provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, including the prohibition of property destruction (Article 53), forcible transfers (Article 49), and the duty to facilitate humanitarian access (Articles 59, 60, 63). Furthermore, UNRWA schools, as United Nations premises, are protected under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN.
This report documents and analyzes education-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the academic year 2024–2025. It traces the surge in violence and systemic restrictions that began in late 2022, intensified in 2023, and culminated in the crisis witnessed in 2024 and 2025. The report aims to present a comprehensive picture of the scope, nature, and impact of these violations while underscoring the urgent need for protection, accountability, and respect for the right of all Palestinian children to access safe, quality, and uninterrupted education.