They will kill you: Violence against Palestinian education escalates

The shooting of a 14-year-old boy outside his school highlights the escalating violence against Palestinian education in the occupied West Bank. Aws al-Naasan was shot in the head by an Israeli reservist on April 21, 2026, near Mughayyir village. The incident reflects a troubling trend of settler violence targeting schools and students.

Following the shooting, classes at Mughayyir boys’ secondary school were suspended for a week. This decision came after Aws and another student, Jihad Abu Naim, were killed. In a related incident, Israeli settlers attacked and demolished a British- and European-funded school for Palestinian children shortly after Aws’s death.

Israeli forces have disrupted education in Mughayyir for years. They have set up checkpoints that intimidate students. These actions contribute to a hostile environment for learning.

Key statistics:

The UN reported that Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed at least 792 teachers and 18,639 students . and Settlers used bulldozers to raze four classrooms and playgrounds at a school in Hammamat al-Maleh.

Aws’s friend Ahmed Abu Ali expressed concerns about returning to school: “We want to go back to school, but our families are worried.” This sentiment reflects a broader fear among students and families amid ongoing violence.

Tariq Hathaleen, a local resident, noted the significance of safe access to education: “This path is not just a road; it is the lifeline that connects our children to their education and to a sense of normal life.”

James Elder, global spokesperson for UNICEF, stated that “these attacks on the education of Palestinian children are not isolated incidents.” B’Tselem described the situation as one where Israeli militias provoke confrontations to justify lethal force against residents defending their homes.

The international community continues to monitor these developments closely. However, uncertainty remains about how this violence will impact Palestinian education moving forward.