Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank fired tear gas on Monday against Palestinian schoolchildren who staged a sit-in after Israeli settlers blocked their access to the school. This follows from the images published by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
- Israeli troops used tear gas against Palestinian schoolchildren during the protest.
- Jewish settlers in Masafer Jatta blocked Palestinian students from entering the school.
- Attacks by Jewish settlers in the West Bank increased significantly after the outbreak of war.
The incident occurred in a small village in the southern part of the West Bank in the Masafer Jatta region. Pupils were due to return to school there after more than 40 days since classes were suspended due to the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28.
Violence against schoolchildren
Attacks by Jewish settlers throughout the West Bank have increased sharply since the outbreak of war with Iran. The mentioned region is also the focus of their violence and the destruction of homes belonging to Palestinians.
A group of schoolchildren and others gathered at a barbed wire fence erected by Israeli settlers to block access to the school, AFP reported. Pupils and several local residents were holding classes outside in protest to force access to the school when soldiers fired tear gas, witnesses said.
Protests against settlers
The representative of the school office for the Masafer Jatta region confirmed that the children were organizing a protest at the time of the incident. “The settlers are trying to limit us in every possible way. One of those methods is cutting off the path for the pupils and expanding the settlements,” he said of the local settlers who built the fence.
“Unfortunately, there is no solution. We will continue this protest today and tomorrow until we find a solution so that students can return to their schools,” he said.
Army reaction
The Israeli army (IDF) confirmed to AFP that it had sent its troops to the area. “IDF soldiers were dispatched to the area… based on reports of an unusual gathering of Palestinians in the area,” she said. “The gathering was dispersed and no injuries were reported,” the military said, without specifying whether tear gas was used.
However, AFP footage shows troops firing tear gas projectiles as children scream and run.
Historical context
Israel has occupied the Palestinian West Bank since the Six-Day War in 1967. Three million Palestinians live in this territory. About 700,000 Israelis also live in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, but the settlements are illegal under international law.
