Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinian school in occupied West Bank
A Palestinian school in the occupied West Bank has come under attack by illegal Israeli settlers.
In their latest attack in the Israeli-occupied territory, the settlers heavily damaged the Palestinian school in the southern West Bank on Sunday.
The WAFA news agency reported that the Israeli settlers had rampaged through the Zanuta School east of Al-Dhahiriya, south of Al-Khalil, stealing the equipment inside the school.
“Illegal settlers had previously attacked and destroyed the school multiple times and assaulted villagers and attacked their homes,” Municipal chief Fayez Al-Tal said, adding that the school had been recently renovated and new equipment financed by villagers had been bought in preparation for receiving students.
The Israeli settlers’ attack was “a new attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians from their villages,” Palestinian Ministry of Education spokesman Sadiq Al-Khadour said.
Speaking to the Anadolu news agency, Khadour said the ministry has been cooperating with the residents working to renew the school, which serves about 40 children from remote communities in the area.
“This school provides essential humanitarian services to citizens in marginalized areas,” Khadour said.
Khadour urged human rights organizations, especially UNICEF, to “ensure that this and other schools in remote areas can continue their vital work.”
The Zanuta School had been demolished in November 2023 by illegal Israeli settlers after forcibly displacing more than 250 residents from the village nearby in late October.
However, villagers lodged a complaint, and after more than nine months of forced displacement, they gained permission in August 2024 to return to their homes.
Since the start of the Israeli regime’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, nearly 960 Palestinians have been killed and over 7,000 others injured in attacks by Israeli forces in the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources.
The International Court of Justice has declared the Israelis’ decades-long occupation of Palestinian land illegal and demanded the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and al-Quds.
