West Bank and Jerusalem Schools Open for New Academic Year

Over 846,000 students began the 2026-2027 academic year across the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Sunday, with 2,537 schools, including governmental, private, and UNRWA institutions, opening their doors. The Ministry of Education reported that approximately 54,000 teachers are overseeing the new school year. Of the total student population, 634,294 are in governmental schools, 163,787 in private schools, and 48,208 in UNRWA schools.

In the northern West Bank town of Aqaba, near Tubas, the start of the school year was postponed due to what the report calls "aggression" against the town. This occurred concurrently with Israeli forces raiding the Huwara and Burqa schools in Nablus Governorate, disrupting classes for several hours.

In Tubas and the northern Jordan Valley, over 15,000 students returned to school. The opening ceremony was held at the Atouf Mixed Basic School, which the local education director, Azmi Balawneh, described as a "school of defiance" symbolizing resilience against ongoing Israeli targeting aimed at displacing residents and Judaizing land. Balawneh stated these policies will not deter residents from holding onto their land and educating their children.

In the Gaza Strip, the academic year will commence on September 16 for administrative and teaching staff, with students returning on September 19. The Ministry of Education plans to establish around 700 in-person learning points and 25 temporary schools, alongside continued virtual learning for students unable to attend physically, accommodating approximately 541,000 students.

The Palestinian Police deployed officers around schools and on surrounding roads to ensure the safe arrival of students and staff, manage traffic, and maintain public safety throughout the school day.