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U.N. agency says Israeli forces entered UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem, forcing evacuation of children
Summary
The U.N. relief agency reported that Israeli forces entered UNRWA schools in Shuafat Camp and other East Jerusalem sites, evacuating hundreds of children and detaining one staff member, the U.N. spokesperson said.
Farhan, U.N. spokesperson, relayed remarks from Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), that heavily armed Israeli forces entered three UNRWA schools in Shuafat Camp in occupied East Jerusalem and forced more than 550 children out of classrooms this morning.
Lazzarini, as quoted by the spokesperson, said one UNRWA staff member was detained and that UNRWA evacuated children across six schools it runs in East Jerusalem, leaving nearly 800 children “in shock and trauma,” some as young as 6.
The spokesperson said Lazzarini described the storming and closure of schools as a “blatant disregard of international law” and said the premises are inviolable U.N. facilities. Farhan said the U.N. would do what it can to ensure children in East Jerusalem can receive education and that the situation will depend on developments in coming days.
A reporter asked whether UNRWA received any warning. The spokesperson said the U.N. was aware of related Knesset legislation and had stressed the inviolability of U.N. premises but did not confirm prior warning or say whether access will be restored.
