Maldives Condemns Closure of UNRWA Schools in East Jerusalem by Israeli Authorities

The Government of the Republic of Maldives has strongly condemned the decision by Israeli occupation authorities to close six schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Maldivian Government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the universal right to education, describing it as a fundamental right protected under international human rights and humanitarian law. It said the targeted closure of educational institutions, particularly those run by UNRWA, constitutes a serious breach of international legal standards and represents the unacceptable politicisation of Palestinian children’s education.

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The Government further expressed concern that such actions endanger the future of numerous innocent students and risk exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Maldives Condemns Closure of UNRWA Schools by Israeli Occupation Authorities

🔗 Statement | https://t.co/TpS7FLWeLx pic.twitter.com/5DO0lgDecy— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇲🇻 (@MoFAmv) April 13, 2025

Calling for the immediate reversal of the closures, the Maldives urged for the protection of schools as safe spaces that must remain free from conflict and coercion. The statement also reiterated the Maldives’ call on the international community to take concrete measures to hold Israel accountable for what it described as continued violations of international law.

The Maldives concluded by reaffirming its longstanding support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the creation of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.