Gaza Teacher Alleges Threats for Opposing Anti-Jewish Indoctrination in UNRWA School

A Palestinian teacher in Gaza has described being threatened with physical violence after confronting colleagues over alleged anti-Jewish indoctrination in a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school. The educator, who has worked for UNRWA for 15 years, stated that an administrator threatened to cut out her tongue after she objected to what she described as students being taught to hate Jews and embrace violence.

The teacher, whose name has been withheld for her safety, told The Post that the incident occurred at a UNRWA school in Gaza City that has since been repurposed as a shelter. She recounted that the administrator confronted her with scissors days after a dispute with another teacher over the content being taught to young girls.

"We will make you wish for death, and if you don’t stop arguing, we will cut your tongue," the teacher recalled the administrator saying.

She believes the war with Israel has intensified the danger of challenging extremist rhetoric in Gaza's classrooms. "Today [the danger is] more intense than ever because the children are actually suffering" from Israeli attacks, she said.

The educator stated that she initially sought employment with UNRWA, believing a UN-affiliated school would shield children from Hamas's influence. However, she claims to have found an environment where some teachers openly promoted hatred of Jews and glorified Hamas's actions.

She described witnessing a sixth-grade history teacher blaming Jews for Palestinian suffering and asserting that Hamas emerged to correct historical injustices. Another teacher, she alleged, encouraged young girls to continue Hamas's struggle against Jews.

Fearing retaliation and unsure of potential ties between school officials and Hamas, the teacher did not initially report the incidents through official channels. Human Rights Watch has documented risks associated with criticizing Hamas in Gaza, including arbitrary arrests and torture.

The teacher's account surfaces amid ongoing scrutiny of UNRWA, with critics long accusing the agency of tolerating antisemitism and the glorification of terrorism in its schools. These concerns intensified following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. A UN investigation found evidence suggesting nine UNRWA employees may have participated in the attack, leading to their dismissal. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report in January 2026 also identified issues with Palestinian Authority textbooks used in UNRWA schools, citing material inconsistent with UN principles of neutrality.

UNRWA has stated that it does not tolerate incitement or support for terrorism and has pointed to measures intended to maintain neutrality. The agency did not respond to a request for comment from The Post.

The teacher expressed concern that the trauma experienced by children due to the ongoing conflict makes them particularly vulnerable to narratives that blame Jews for Gaza's devastation. She estimated that a significant portion of teachers in Gaza believe violence against Jews is a necessary means to achieve Palestinian political goals.

"They hate the consequences of October 7. They hate the war that October 7 brought upon them. But they don’t hate October 7 itself," she said, warning that a failure to address the underlying ideology could lead to future attacks.

She called for a fundamental overhaul of Gaza's education system, including curriculum reform and independent oversight of teachers, emphasizing its importance in shaping the future.