UNRWA drops ‘Palestine’ from school textbooks in Lebanon’s refugee camps

• UNRWA curriculum changes spark protests: Palestinian students and parents in Lebanon’s refugee camps are protesting the removal of the word “Palestine” from geography textbooks.
• Book burnings reported: Videos show students and community members in Jalil, Ain al-Hilweh, and Nahr al-Bared burning the revised textbooks in symbolic acts of defiance.
• Widespread mobilization: Protests have included school strikes, sit-ins, and public demonstrations, marking the second week of unrest in several camps.

Palestinian students and residents in Lebanon’s Jalil camp set fire to UNRWA geography textbooks after the word “Palestine” was removed, replacing it with “West Bank” and “Gaza Strip.”

The protests come amid the second week of growing public and student demonstrations against the agency’s curriculum changes.

Strike, Sit-ins, and School Closures

The wave of protests has included school strikes, sit-ins, and statements condemning UNRWA, with accusations that the agency is attempting to erase Palestinian identity and collective memory among younger generations.

Community Action in Saida and Ain al-Hilweh

In Saida and Ain al-Hilweh, sixth-grade students, alongside parents and community activists, staged symbolic protests and burned the revised geography books, demanding the agency reinstate the original curricula to preserve Palestinian national identity.

Direct Action in Jalil Camp, Bekaa

In Jalil camp, parents organized an immediate withdrawal of the geography books from schools and staged an ongoing sit-in in front of Al-Qastal School to protest the removal of Palestine from the curriculum. The Higher Follow-up Committee urged families to return the books to school administrations as an act of protest.

Nahr al-Bared and Wider Mobilizations

Protests in Nahr al-Bared included parents and students marching to UNRWA clinics and schools to remove the altered textbooks, following previous warning strikes. Activists described the agency’s actions as part of a broader plan to erase Palestinian identity and undermine refugees’ cultural and historical memory.

Hamas: UNRWA Campaign Against Palestinian Identity

The Hamas-affiliated “Collective Work” in Lebanon accused UNRWA of orchestrating a systematic campaign against Palestinian national identity.

According to their statement, the campaign includes removing the name Palestine, banning maps and national symbols, and penalizing staff or students for displaying Palestinian symbols such as the keffiyeh or maps.

The group said these actions serve Israeli Occupation plans and undermine the Palestinian cause.

Palestinian Embassy in Lebanon Responds

The Palestinian Embassy in Lebanon cited UNRWA’s official clarification, noting that the agency adheres to host-country curricula and that the enriched geography material for sixth grade is not a formal textbook but a supplementary tool for critical thinking and map-reading skills.

The embassy reaffirmed the importance of UNRWA’s role in protecting refugees’ right to education and maintaining Palestinian identity.

Calls for Immediate Reversal

Activists and families across Lebanese camps have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the modified textbooks and reinstatement of Palestine in school curricula. Concerns remain high over the potential long-term impact on Palestinian students’ national identity and historical memory.