JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Saturday prevented a celebration from taking place for retired Palestinian teachers in occupied East Jerusalem, declaring the al-Shabbat al-Muslimat school a closed zone.

The event was organized by the Palestinian Directorate of Education, with the Palestinian Minister of Education, Sabri Saidam, and several ministry officials set to attend.

Local sources told Ma’an that Israeli police forces stopped Saidam on his way to the school and prevented him from reaching the area.

Israeli forces raided the school and forced teachers to leave before they handing the principal of the school an order signed by the Israeli Minister of Internal Security to end the celebration.

Saidam released a statement condemning the prevention of the celebration, saying that it was part of Israel’s continuous targeting of Palestinian education in occupied East Jerusalem.