Key facts
- Parents in al-Mughayyir, occupied West Bank, are fearful for their children's safety at school due to increased settler violence.
- Six individuals, including three pupils, have been killed in al-Mughayyir this year.
- A 14-year-old student was shot and killed by a settler outside the school in April.
- Two additional pupils were killed by Israeli forces during settler attacks over the summer.
- The school has installed reinforced gates and barbed wire fencing.
- A nine-year-old boy was shot and injured by a settler on his family farm in July.
Parents in the occupied West Bank village of al-Mughayyir are increasingly fearful for their children's safety as settler violence escalates, particularly around the local school. The head-teacher arrived before dawn to find new barbed wire fencing and reinforced gates, reflecting the heightened tensions.
Six people, including three pupils from the al-Mughayyir boys school, have been killed this year amid a surge in settler-related violence. In April, 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan was shot dead by a settler outside the school gates. English teacher Waheed Abu Naem recounted the incident, describing how bullets continued to hit the school building as students hid.
The Israeli military stated that stones were hurled at a car carrying civilians, including a reservist soldier, who then fired at suspects. The reservist was reportedly suspended and an investigation launched. However, over the summer, two more pupils were shot dead by Israeli forces during settler attacks, along with a 19-year-old who had recently left the school. The army stated its forces responded to violent riots in both instances.
Despite the dangers, parents are sending their children back to school, with enhanced security measures like barbed wire, reinforced gates, stationed ambulance crews, and parent volunteers. However, the fear remains palpable, with some parents expressing that the situation is not safe. Teachers have instructed students to remain calm and avoid settlers or soldiers if they approach.
Residents believe that some Israeli settlers are deliberately targeting children to force Palestinian families out of their homes. Hadi al-Naasan, an ambulance driver, noted a shift in Israeli forces' behavior, providing protection to settlers and enabling incursions. Sami Abu Rahma, a sheep farmer, shared his experience of his nine-year-old son being shot and injured by a settler in July, an individual who had previously threatened the family and lived in an illegal outpost that appeared near their farm.
The regional settlers council stated that an off-duty soldier was arrested in connection with the shooting and rejected attempts to attribute the acts of a few to the entire settlement community, or to claim that Jewish presence is a plan to harm children. International law deems Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal, and many outposts near al-Mughayyir are also illegal under Israeli law.