No Holocaust lessons at Gaza schools

GAZA, March 2 (UPI) -- Gaza's government has accused a U.N. agency of overstepping its role by including lessons about the Holocaust in U.N.-run schools in the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas-led government said it would do everything in its power to prevent children from being taught about the Holocaust, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported.

Gaza Education Minister Mahammad Ashquol said his ministry "will never allow teaching Holocaust to Gazan refugee camp children."

The children are being urged to leave class if their human rights lessons include any information about the Holocaust, Ma'an reported.

Human rights education has been part of the curriculum in schools across the region since 2002, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said.

Chris Gunness said the UNRWA program is anchored in the principles of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.

He said children in Gaza deserve an education that is not disrupted or politicized.