Concerns for Children's Safety in West Bank Schools Amid Increased Settler Violence

On the first day of the new Palestinian school year, the head-teacher of al-Mughayyir boys school arrived at work before dawn, walking past the freshly installed barbed wire fencing and reinforced school gates as the sun began to rise over the village, located in the occupied West Bank. Bassam al Assaf, the head-teacher, expressed concerns, stating, "We are scared. The students are afraid, and their parents are afraid." This year, six individuals, including three students from the school, have been killed in a rise of settler-related violence against Palestinians. One of the deceased, 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan, was shot by a settler outside the school gates in April. English teacher Waheed Abu Naem recalled the incident, stating that he was trying to move students to safety when the settler fired towards them. Mobile phone footage captured the moment Aws was shot. Waheed described the scene, saying, "When I turned him onto his back, I saw lots of blood coming from his nose and mouth, and the bullet in his head." The Israeli military stated that stones had been thrown at a vehicle carrying civilians, including a reservist soldier, who then fired at suspects. Israeli media reported that the reservist was later suspended and an investigation was launched. Since April, the number of casualties has increased, leading to heightened fears among parents. Over the summer, two more students were shot dead by Israeli forces during settler attacks, along with a 19-year-old who had just left the school. In both instances, the Israeli army claimed its forces responded to instigators of "a violent riot." With three empty desks in classrooms, some parents hesitated to send their children back for the new school year. The school is located on the edge of Al-Mughayyir, an isolated village northeast of Ramallah, increasingly surrounded by Jewish settler outposts and frequently blocked by Israeli forces operating an ad-hoc checkpoint at the entrance. To reassure parents, Bassam al-Assaf installed a long barbed-wire fence around the school compound and reinforced the gates. Ambulance crews are stationed outside, and several parents have volunteered to remain outside the school throughout the day for added protection. Haroon Bishara, a parent, stated, "I came because it makes the children feel their parents are with them, that they are safe, it gives them a kind of security." He added, "We fear for our children more this year. We know the situation is not safe at the school." Despite the fear, parents expressed determination not to let the threat from settler attacks drive them away. During the first assembly, teachers repeatedly instructed students on how to respond if soldiers or settlers approached the school. Shortly after classes began, settlers were observed near the school, with two men driving sheep through Palestinian fields nearby as Israeli soldiers stood close by. Abu Naem noted that settlers have gotten closer to the village since April. The Israeli army was asked for a response to the allegations in this report but was unable to provide one before publication. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law. Many small ad-hoc settler outposts around al-Mughayyir are also illegal under Israeli law. An ambulance crew stationed outside the school reported that instead of removing illegal settlements, Israeli soldiers have begun supporting settler incursions into the village. Hadi al-Naasan, an ambulance driver, noted a shift in the behavior of Israeli forces over the past year, stating that the increase in Palestinian deaths and injuries in al-Mughayyir reflects this change. He explained, "At the beginning of 2025, settler attacks were few, due to the army's interventions. In 2026, the situation changed completely: the settlers became fully protected by the occupation soldiers." This year, the number of casualties, including children, has risen significantly. A UN Commission of Inquiry published in June found that settler attacks have targeted children as part of a broader strategy to drive Palestinians off their land. The report described a pattern of settlers intentionally targeting Palestinian children in various everyday situations. Israel dismissed the report as a "libellous sham." Sami Abu Rahma, a sheep farmer, believes that violent settlers are deliberately targeting children. His nine-year-old son, Salim, was shot while playing with siblings outside al-Mughayyir in July. Footage from security cameras captured the incident. Sami recounted the fear he felt during the attack, stating, "You no longer feel you can keep them safe in the street, or even at school." He mentioned that he is the last sheep farmer in the area, as others have been driven away by settler violence. The regional settlers council stated that an off-duty soldier was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the shooting and expressed regret for any harm to innocent people, while rejecting claims that settlers are part of a deliberate plan to harm children. Al-Mughayyir exemplifies a broader trend across the occupied West Bank, with increasing illegal settler outposts surrounding Palestinian villages and more protection for settlers from Israeli forces. UN figures indicate that the number of Palestinians injured during settler attacks has sharply increased this year, averaging three injuries per day. This rise coincides with the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli government, under pressure from the international community, including the UK, is facing scrutiny over its settlement policies. Despite some arrests of violent settlers and reported plans to dismantle illegal outposts, attacks have continued. With Israeli elections approaching, the Finance Ministry has advanced plans to take over land registration in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which has been described as a step towards annexation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attributed settler violence to a small extremist minority. Since the beginning of 2025, the UN has recorded 316 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers, with over 5,600 injured by the end of July 2026. In contrast, 20 Israelis were killed during the same period, including one child and eight security personnel, with 123 injured. Palestinian parents in villages like al-Mughayyir are increasingly concerned about the safety of their children amid ongoing settler violence.