Israel still bans entry of Palestinian schoolbooks into Gaza

Palestinian Deputy Minister of Education Ziad Thabet said Sunday that Israel still bans the entry of school books of seven subjects that were newly approved as the new Palestinian curricula.

Thabet said at a press conference in Gaza that "the continued Israeli ban on the entry of the elementary level school books negatively affects the educational process," pointing out that the ministry is working through difficult phases to ensure the school year needs and cover for the shortage of teachers.

Nearly two million students headed to their first day of the new scholastic year in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah visited a West Bank public school on Sunday and said that "the school year begins while the Israeli occupation continues on our land, expands its settlements and allows its soldiers and settlers to carry out their crimes against our youth and children."

He added that "the educational sector has lost 40 teachers, employees and students during the past year, while hundreds others were injured."

"The Palestinians have the right to a stable, safe and advanced education, to start a new scholastic year through which Palestinian students would illustrate their determination for life, hope and steadfastness in their homeland," said the Prime Minister. Endit