Kuwait city: Arab League's Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, Ambassador Saeed Abu Ali, called for providing Arab and international support to the educational process in Palestine. This announcement was made during the 109th session of the committee on educational programs directed at Arab students in occupied Arab territories, held via video conference.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the meeting saw participation from delegations representing Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, the Arab States Broadcasting Union, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Ambassador Abu Ali urged human rights, humanitarian, and media institutions to take responsibility for the ongoing aggressive actions by the Israeli occupation that impact the educational landscape in Palestine.
Assistant Undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Education, Dr. Ayoub Alian, highlighted the grave challenges faced by Palestinian students, stating that their path to educational institutions is fraught with danger from bombs, bullets, shells, and missiles. He emphasized the need for support for education in Palestine, given the profound and comprehensive challenges experienced at all levels of the educational process.
The committee recommended an end to the aggression in the Gaza Strip, calling for the cessation of genocide, facilitation of humanitarian aid, and the rebuilding of Gaza. This includes resuming the educational process, constructing schools, providing necessary supplies, and ensuring international protection. The committee underscored that the right to education is a fundamental human right recognized by international laws.
Furthermore, the committee called for an end to occupation violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem that hinder access to a safe educational environment and quality education for Palestinian students. It commended UNRWA's efforts in mitigating the effects of the aggression on Gaza and condemned all illegal decisions by the Israeli occupation. Additionally, the committee urged donor countries to address the budget deficit faced by UNRWA to enable it to fulfill its mission and programs.