Israel ordered six schools in East Jerusalem to be closed this week, disrupting the educational future of 800 Palestinian refugees.
When I visited one of the schools, I visited all the schools run by the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees, all known as Unrwa. The Associated Press reporter witnessed Israeli police throwing tear gas into the schoolyard as a group of boys playing outside.
The children left the gas, coughed, drooled, and covered their eyes. Some people stripped their clothes, while others wore disposable masks.
Israeli police said the intrusion into the Surefat refugee camp has responded to stone throwing but refused to directly target the school. Teachers and administrators said tear gas layoffs on school grounds are unusual, but Israeli operations to camps regularly block learning.
Teacher Duaa Zourba ran to check on his students.
“As Shuafat teachers, our first job has always been to ensure the protection and safety of our children,” she said. “Whenever there is an attack, close the windows. Close the doors so that they don’t smell very heavy tear gas.”
The “goal” is “to remember that kids always consider this school a safe place and that there is a place for them.”
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This is a photo gallery curated by the AP Photo Editor.
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