Roland Friedrich, director of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for the West Bank, said on Wednesday that Israel’s ban on the agency’s activities in East Jerusalem is a serious threat to the right of 800 Palestinian children to education.

Friedrich expressed serious concern about consequences that the termination of the agency’s activities in the region could have. He said that students, parents and teachers are anxious about the possible closure of schools, as children will lose access to education and the ability to communicate with friends. The ban on the agency’s work also endangers local staff on the ground who continue to serve their communities by providing education in refugee camps. Friedrich also stated that despite UNRWA’s role in providing education the West Bank is under threat, but the agency is committed to continuing its work despite these restrictions as long as possible.

In December 2024, Israel passed a law that forbids the UNRWA from functioning within Israel and prevents Israeli officials from engaging with the agency in any capacity. A number of enforcement actions have taken place since then, including the elimination of visas for UNRWA foreign staff and the acceleration of the agency’s withdrawal to Jordan.

The right to education is a fundamental human right that is clearly enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 28 of the latter requires States Parties to ensure accessible, free and quality education for all, which includes facilitating access to education. Article 29 states that the child’s education shall be directed to the full development of the personality, respect for human rights, cultural identity and the environment, and preparation for responsible life in society. The potential closure of schools and cessation of aid jeopardizes the well-being, development, and future of thousands of children and their communities.

Israel’s ban on the UN agency has drawn sharp criticism, as it severely restricts access to humanitarian aid for refugees. On Monday, the UN’s highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice, began proceedings to investigate Israel’s limitations on the operations of the UN and other international agencies in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

UNRWA operates under a UN General Assembly mandate and has long been a major provider of essential services in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem during a sequence of conflicts between Israel and Arab nations, including since the start of the latest war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Its role in the medical and educational sector for Palestinian refugees in the region is critical as they run medical centers with tens of thousands of patients and six schools with 800 children.