The National Times - Arab League Urges Support for UNRWA Amid Gaza Education Crisis

The Arab League has called for urgent political and financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warning that continued conflict and aid restrictions are severely disrupting education in Gaza. Assistant Secretary-General Fa’ed Mustafa highlighted that over 90 percent of school buildings in the territory have been destroyed, while thousands of students and educators have been killed.

Mustafa made these remarks during a meeting of Arab League and UNRWA education officials held at the organization’s headquarters in Cairo from November 15 to 18. He accused Israel of carrying out genocide in the Palestinian territory and stated that Israeli forces continued to attack Gaza despite a ceasefire, resulting in further casualties.

Speaking at the gathering, Mustafa noted that restrictions on humanitarian aid and materials needed for reconstruction remained in place. He praised UNRWA for resuming education services for more than 250,000 students in Gaza as of September 2026 and providing remote learning for others unable to attend in person.

More than 90 percent of school and university buildings in Gaza had been destroyed by Israeli forces, Mustafa said. Many schools were being used as shelters for displaced people, he added, saying the conflict had disrupted education for more than three years and killed thousands of students and education workers.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli incursions, settlement expansion and demolitions had also disrupted education, he said.

Mustafa called for an action plan to protect Palestinian children’s access to education and urged governments and organisations to provide political and financial backing for UNRWA across its five fields of operation.

He said the agency was indispensable to Gaza’s reconstruction and should continue its work until a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue is reached.

A.Robinson--TNT