Palestinian schools, universities adjust schedules on anniversary of Gaza war amid tension concerns

Schools and universities across the West Bank adjusted their schedules this week, with some shifting classes online, around the third anniversary of the start of the war in Gaza, according to Anadolu Agency. The institutions cited concerns about the possibility of tensions or escalation around the anniversary date.

The anniversary marks three years since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. Anadolu Agency's report refers to the anniversary in connection with what it describes as the "Gaza genocide," a characterization that Palestinian officials and some human rights organizations have used to describe the war's toll on civilians in Gaza, while the Israeli government disputes that characterization and says its military campaign has targeted Hamas.

The report does not specify which individual schools or universities altered their schedules, nor does it detail what specific security concerns prompted the shift to online instruction in some cases. Educational institutions adjusting operations around politically sensitive dates has occurred at various points during the broader conflict, reflecting ongoing uncertainty in the West Bank even as fighting has centered primarily in Gaza itself.

Further details on how long the schedule changes will remain in place, or whether additional disruptions are expected, were not included in the available source material.