Israeli army damages Palestinian school in West Bank raid

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Israeli army forces raided a school on Wednesday in the northern West Bank, damaging its facilities, seizing equipment and blocking access, the Palestinian Education Ministry said.

A ministry statement said that Israeli forces stormed al-Tahaddi School–Ibziq, which is run by the Tubas Education Directorate, and destroyed its campus for the second time.

The forces closed the road leading to the school, confiscated educational tools and materials, and destroyed water, electricity and internet networks, the ministry said.

Israeli authorities often target Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank on the grounds that they were built without permits.

On Tuesday, illegal Israeli settlers attacked al-Malih Coeducational Basic School in the Tubas governorate.

The ministry also said Israeli forces impeded students’ access to schools in the town of al-Khader in Bethlehem governorate, while illegal settlers recently raided Shalal al-Auja School in Jericho and sprayed racist graffiti inciting violence against Arabs.

“These assaults and dangerous practices constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and international conventions and agreements that guarantee children’s right to safe education,” the ministry said.

It said the incidents reflect a policy aimed at emptying Palestinian areas of their residents through displacement and undermining Palestinian presence by targeting one of the key pillars of resilience - education.

The ministry held Israel fully responsible for the raids and their psychological and educational impact on students and teachers, and called on international and human rights institutions to take urgent action to halt the Israeli violations, and provide protection for Palestinian schools.

According to Palestinian figures, Israeli forces and illegal settlers have killed at least 1,111 Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and injured at least 11,500 others since October 2023.

In January alone, Israeli forces and illegal settlers carried out 1,872 attacks against Palestinians and their land, said Muayyad Shaaban, head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.

The International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal in a landmark opinion in July 2024 and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

* Writing by Mohammad Sio