Israeli Militants Increase Attacks on West Bank Schools
In the West Bank, education is increasingly under threat as Israeli militants have escalated attacks on schools and students. The recent killing of 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan outside his school in the village of Mughayyir highlights the growing violence targeting Palestinian education. Aws was shot in the head by an Israeli reservist near the western gate of the Mughayyir boys’ secondary school, where he was a ninth-grade student.
Attack on Aws al-Naasan and Immediate Aftermath
Aws collapsed instantly after being shot, bleeding heavily. His classmates rushed to his side, carrying him away from the line of fire along the school wall, leaving a trail of blood. Inside the school, children and teachers were terrified, taking cover in stairwells and urging others to get down. Video footage showed the shooter, a reservist in partial military uniform, aiming at the school from a hillside above.
Shortly after the shooting, the same gunman killed Jihad Abu Naim, the younger brother of an English teacher at the school. Jihad was 36 years old, and his wife is heavily pregnant with their first child. Both Aws and Jihad were killed amid a wave of settler violence in the occupied West Bank, which has increasingly targeted schools and students.
Context of Violence in Mughayyir and the West Bank
Mughayyir is a small village of about 3,000 people located northeast of Ramallah. It has been a target of violence for many years. Aws’s father, Hamdi al-Naasan, was also killed in 2019 by a settler while trying to help an injured neighbor. Following that tragedy, teachers provided extra support to Aws to help him cope with the loss.
After the recent killings, classes in Mughayyir were suspended for a week as parents and teachers considered the safety of their children. Some students expressed a desire to return to school, but families remain worried about their children’s security.
Broader Impact on Education in the West Bank and Palestine
The attacks on education are not isolated to Mughayyir. Across the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian schools and students face increasing violence and disruption. In Gaza, over 600,000 school-age children have experienced nearly three years without formal in-person education due to ongoing conflict. Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of teachers and thousands of students, as well as widespread destruction of school buildings.
In the West Bank, settlers have targeted schools with demolitions and blockades. For example, settlers demolished a British- and European-funded school in Hammamat al-Maleh, destroying classrooms, toilets, playgrounds, and books. The French government has demanded compensation from Israel for this destruction.
In the southern Hebron Hills, settlers placed razor wire across the road to a school serving Palestinian children from Umm al-Khair village, blocking access since mid-April. When villagers protested, Israeli soldiers responded with teargas. Residents say these actions aim to pressure Palestinian communities to leave their land by intimidating children and families.
Security Measures and Responses at Mughayyir School
Israeli forces have frequently disrupted education in Mughayyir. A checkpoint near the boys’ school often frightens students and sometimes prevents teachers living outside the village from reaching their classrooms. The recent surge in violence has heightened concerns among teachers and parents.
On the day of Aws’s killing, teachers noticed armed Israelis approaching the school and quickly secured the students inside, closing the main gate and alerting parents. One teacher, Waheed Abu Naim, attempted to communicate with the armed group but was met with hostility. As the gunman took position on the hillside, Abu Naim warned students to go inside for their safety. Despite these efforts, Aws was shot while still outside.
Reactions and Ongoing Tensions
Following the killings, Israeli forces raided Mughayyir, firing teargas and stun grenades at Palestinian homes. The rights group B’Tselem described the shooting as part of a consistent pattern of deadly attacks by Israeli soldiers and settlers aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinian residents.
The Israeli military stated that the gunman was a reservist who opened fire after stones were thrown at his vehicle. They also said troops arrived after the shooting and did not accompany the reservist during the attack. However, video evidence shows the shooter was positioned several hundred meters from the nearest road when Aws was killed.
Aws al-Naasan is remembered by his family as a respectful boy who wished for a normal life. He leaves behind two sisters and a younger brother, adding to the grief of a family already marked by loss.