The shooting of 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan outside his school in Mughayyir village underscores the alarming rise in violence against Palestinian education in the occupied West Bank. This incident occurred amid a broader climate of settler violence targeting schools and students, raising serious concerns about the safety and future of education for Palestinian children.
The attack on Aws, who was shot in the head by an Israeli reservist, reflects a disturbing trend. Following this tragedy, classes at Mughayyir boys’ secondary school were suspended for a week after the killings of Aws and another student, Jihad Abu Naim. The incident is not an isolated one; it follows reports of Israeli settlers attacking and demolishing a British- and European-funded school shortly thereafter.
Key statistics:
- The UN reported that at least 792 teachers and 18,639 students have been killed due to Israeli attacks in Gaza.
- Settlers have used bulldozers to raze classrooms and playgrounds at schools like Hammamat al-Maleh.
- Israeli forces have a documented history of disrupting education in Mughayyir by setting up checkpoints that intimidate students.
