The decisions issued by UNRWA against a number of Palestinian teachers, whether through the dismissal of four teachers or issuing warnings to others, represent a serious development in the agency’s treatment of its staff, especially those known for their union activities or their open expression of opinions within professional frameworks. The dismissal decision came after the concerned teachers had been suspended since October 2024 on the grounds of violating the principle of neutrality, at a notable timing near the end of the academic year, suggesting a deliberate attempt to avoid any student or community reactions.
These measures exhibit clear signs of arbitrariness with a political background, threatening the working environment within UNRWA and contradicting the general principles of administrative justice, specifically Article 101(5) of the UN Staff Regulations, which prohibits any arbitrary or selective administrative action. Moreover, these actions lack sound legal basis, having been applied simultaneously and uniformly across separate cases, revealing the vindictiveness of the decision and its departure from accepted professional standards.
Targeting union-active teachers under the guise of neutrality reflects a worrying trend within the agency to neutralize free voices and dismantle union structures, amid unjustified silence from UNRWA’s senior management and the accumulation of administrative practices undermining freedom of opinion and expression in the workplace.
At the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness), we consider these events not as isolated administrative cases but as part of a concerning trend aimed at suppressing union and professional spaces within the agency and draining the educational body of critical competencies toward unfair policies.
We also warn of the repercussions of these measures on the stability of the educational process and the relationship between UNRWA administration and the Palestinian community it is supposed to serve rather than silence.
Accordingly, we demand that UNRWA administration:
1️⃣ Immediately revoke the dismissal decisions and warnings, and open a fair investigation into their backgrounds.
2️⃣ Respect union rights and freedom of expression in accordance with international standards and the internal regulations of the United Nations.
3️⃣ Stop selective application of the neutrality principle and adopt unified and fair standards for accountability.
4️⃣ Initiate serious dialogue with the Palestinian Teachers’ Union and representatives of the educational staff regarding these developments.
We also call on all local and international human rights bodies and trade unions to stand in solidarity with the targeted teachers and work to ensure a work environment founded on dignity, professionalism, and justice.
Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)
Beirut – Palestine – June 25, 2025