Palestinian Prisoners’ Society Says Israel Holds 65 Students From Taking Exams

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said that, according to data from the Ministry of Education, 65 high-school students are currently in Israeli custody and have been unable to take this year’s secondary school examinations.

“Since Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, the climate on Belgian campuses, notably at the ULB, has become especially hostile to Jewish students”

21News

WAFA Agency reported that since the beginning of the genocide, the students have faced harsh conditions including torture, ill-treatment, and deprivation of their families and the right to education.

21News

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society added that Israeli authorities have intensified campaigns targeting the arrest of Palestinian students, and that rights previously secured for Palestinian prisoners—including access to education—have been removed.

In a statement, the society said the prison system removed “all rights” of prisoners and transformed prisons into “open spaces for torture and abuse around the clock.”

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society called on international human rights organizations and relevant UN bodies to assume their responsibilities regarding the escalating crimes committed against detained Palestinian students.

WAFA Agency said the Prisoners' Club urged those bodies to act urgently to pressure the occupying authorities to halt their policy of targeting students and depriving them of their right to education.

Arab News PK

The society said it was urging action to ensure the protection of imprisoned children and students and to end the systematic torture policies that flagrantly violate international humanitarian law, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Arab News PK said the society urged international organizations to pressure Israeli authorities to halt their policy of targeting students and depriving them of their right to education, to ensure the protection of imprisoned children and students, and to end the systematic torture policies.

In Belgium, 21News reported that since Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, the climate on Belgian campuses, notably at the ULB, has become especially hostile to Jewish students, with threats, violent occupations, and silence from the rectorate.

“After the evacuation of Uni-Mail early Tuesday morning, a new occupation, on a smaller scale, was set up at the Haute École du paysage, d’ingénierie et d’architecture”

Le Temps

21News quoted Gad Deshayes, president of the Union of Jewish Students of Belgium, saying, "Things have accelerated since October 7, 2023" and describing a daily life where displaying one’s Jewish identity is perceived as a risk.

The outlet said Deshayes described a “fairly violent occupation of ULB buildings” by pro-Palestinian associations whose objective, he said, is to push Jewish students out of higher education.

In Geneva, Le Temps reported that after the evacuation of Uni-Mail early Tuesday morning, police intervened in the afternoon to remove students from the Haute École du paysage, d’ingénierie et d’architecture, and that the occupants left calmly according to the police.