As the new school year begins in the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir, local families are grappling with heightened anxiety following a series of violent incidents. The head-teacher of the local boys' school, Bassam al-Assaf, has reinforced the facility with barbed wire and strengthened gates in an effort to protect students, while some parents have begun volunteering to stand guard outside the building throughout the school day.
The village, located northeast of Ramallah, has seen a rise in casualties this year, including the death of 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan, who was shot near the school in April. Teachers report that students are frequently instructed to remain calm and avoid confrontation if soldiers or settlers approach the school grounds. According to local residents, the presence of settlers and Israeli forces has become more frequent, with some villagers alleging that the military now provides protection for settler incursions into the area.
The situation has drawn international attention, with a UN Commission of Inquiry report from June suggesting that settler attacks are being used as a coercive strategy to displace Palestinians from their land. While the Israeli government has dismissed such reports, the regional settlers' council stated it opposes illegal violence and rejects claims that the presence of settlers is part of a coordinated effort to harm children or force residents to leave.
Data from the United Nations indicates a sharp increase in injuries among Palestinians in the West Bank this year, with an average of three incidents per day involving either settlers or Israeli forces. Despite reports of some arrests and government promises to address illegal outposts, many residents remain skeptical. For parents like Haroon Bishara, the decision to send children to school is now a difficult balance between the necessity of education and the persistent fear of violence.
Source: BBC News
មិនទាន់មានមតិយោបល់នៅឡើយទេ។ សូមធ្វើជាអ្នកដំបូងដែលចែករំលែកគំនិតរបស់អ្នក។