The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Lebanon has ordered the removal of posters of Hamas leaders in some of the organization’s schools, according to the Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star.
Richard Cook requested that UNRWA schools in northern Lebanon take down images of ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz A-Rantisi and Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, following their assassinations by Israel, in order to implement U.N. resolutions and “to prevent children getting accustomed to violence and terrorism,” the report stated.
Cook also reportedly demanded that photographs of Palestinian children throwing stones at Israeli soldiers and “victory” symbols be removed from classrooms.
The Media Line is waiting for comment by Richard Cook.
The decision was met with vociferous disapproval on the part of Palestinian groups within the camps, including Hamas, which claimed that Palestinian children should be taught about martyrs and their rights vis-à-vis Israel, the article stated.
Palestinian refugees who fled to Lebanon in 1948 and 1967 largely live in destitute conditions in refugee camps as they are not allowed to work or own property in Lebanon.