Israeli occupation forces demolished 6 Palestinian schools and shut down 6 others in 2022 alone, according to Arab Campaign for Education for All (ACEA)
The campaign said, “Israeli occupation authorities issued 6 demolish orders and termination of building against 6 Palestinian schools last year.”
It continued, “the demolishing of Isfi school in Msafer Yatta is a slap on the face to all international efforts and violates all norms and instruments. Also, the occupation issued demolition notices against 58 Palestinian schools in occupied West Bank and Jerusalem that serves over 6550 students, and 700 of educational staff. ”
ACEA emphasized that these acts are blatant violations of Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. They also called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UNICEF to take their part in protecting the Palestinians’ rights to education and safety and do more than condemnations to pressure the Israeli occupation to stop its violations against Palestinian education system.
ACEC called for adopting the organization of an international day to talk about demolishing schools and consider it as a racist act that violates international laws and charters.
The campaign expressed grave concern at Israel’s occupation of the inalienable right of Palestinian children to education, which has affected children, teachers and school buildings.
It recalled the brutal murder of the Palestinian child, Rayyan Suliman, on his way back to home from school.
ACEC also recalled the policy of demolishing schools, especially in Msafer Yatta communities, where the lack of access to schools in those communities increases the risk of children dropping out of school, a particular concern for girls because families no longer wanted to send their daughters to school for fear of their safety.
The campaign said, “These violations require an international position that rises to the challenge and requires Member States, United Nations agencies, UNESCO, UNICEF, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and international human rights institutions such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene immediately and urgently to protect education and its institutions in Palestine.”
It added, “the right to education does not await, the threat of Israel’s occupation and its settlers against it is intolerable, and moral responsibility obliges everyone to stop indifference to intentional targeting, as is the case every day of education in Palestine.
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