Exposed: Jerusalem School Operates Under Hamas Patronage

Chairman of the Knesset Education Committee MK Zvi Sukkot arrived today, Thursday, for a surprise visit to the Nur Al-Huda school in the Shuafat neighborhood of East Jerusalem, and confronted its principal after ties between him and the terrorist organization Hamas were exposed. Sukkot clarified: "A child who grows up in a Hamas school is the terrorist of the future, we will not allow terrorism to penetrate the education system in Jerusalem."

The visit was part of a series of oversight inspections carried out by the committee in the Arab education system in the city.

During the visit, a confrontation developed between MK Sukkot and the school principal, Hamza Qaisi. Sukkot presented the principal with documentation showing him collecting money for an association identified with Hamas. When the documentation was shown and the accusations were raised, the principal refrained from answering questions and chose to run into the school grounds.

The visit followed an investigation by the website Kol HaYehudi, which found that the school is linked to the association "Amsakh Damat Alitim," run by figures affiliated with the "Zakat Al Quds" association, an entity that was recognized by the court as an organization associated with Hamas and is now in liquidation proceedings.

The data shows that the school principal, Qaisi, holds positions in associations connected to this organization, and he even acknowledged in the past, in official publications, that he received financial assistance for the institution from parties defined as prohibited organizations. It was also alleged that the school building was established from donations raised by terror operatives, and that figures who openly supported terror took part in the inauguration ceremony.

"There is no ex-territory in the State of Israel," Sukkot declared at the end of the tour. "We will not aid terrorism and we will not allow a situation in which educational institutions in Jerusalem operate under the patronage, financing, or influence of elements identified with Hamas. Anyone who thinks it is possible to bring extremist ideology into the education system while also enjoying recognition or budgets from the State of Israel is mistaken."

Sukkot said he would immediately обратиться to the Education and Defense ministries demanding that they examine all agreements with the institution and ensure that public funds do not flow to institutions linked to terror organizations.

Kol HaYehudi responded: "We warned about Hamas institutions in Jerusalem that are funded by the State of Israel as far back as about four years ago. We provided a great deal of material to the Israel Police as well, and we hope the authorities will wake up and act not only against Gaza but also against Hamas institutions that are located in the heart of Jerusalem."