Israel bars Palestinian 8th grader from resuming education at Jerusalem public school

Israel says fourteen-year-old Ahmad Salaymeh, who was released last week from Israeli detention in a prisoner-hostage swap deal between Hamas and Israel, cannot resume his education at a public school.

The 8th grader attempted to rejoin his class on Monday morning, but the school headmaster informed him that they received instructions from the municipality not to readmit any pupil released from prison in the swap deal. 

"I contacted my lawyer. He asked me to obtain the decision in writing, but the school referred me to the municipality", Ahmad's father, Nawaf, told The New Arab. 

Ahmad was among the youngest Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention to be set free during a week-long truce between Hamas and Israel that collapsed last Friday. 

"Education is our right. It is not a gift", Nawaf added. 

Nawaf's lawyer did not offer a legal opinion on the decision to bar Ahmad from education. 

East Jerusalem is an occupied city under international law; Israel is obliged to provide education to Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. 

It is unclear if such a move is even legal under Israeli law. 

There are plenty of private Palestinian schools in occupied East Jerusalem, but Nawaf said he cannot afford the high tuition.