The shooting of Aws al-Naasan, a 14-year-old boy outside his school in Mughayyir village on April 21, 2026, highlights the escalating violence against Palestinian education in the occupied West Bank. Aws was shot in the head by an Israeli reservist amid rising settler violence that has increasingly targeted schools and students.
Classes at Mughayyir boys’ secondary school were suspended for a week following Aws’s death and that of another student, Jihad Abu Naim. This incident is part of a broader pattern where Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian educational institutions, including the recent demolition of a British- and European-funded school shortly after Aws was killed.
Key statistics:
- Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in at least 792 teachers and 18,639 students killed.
- Settlers demolished four classrooms at a school in Hammamat al-Maleh.
- The climate of fear includes Israeli forces disrupting education by setting up checkpoints that intimidate students.
“We want to go back to school, but our families are worried,” said Ahmed Abu Ali, a friend and classmate of Aws. The ongoing violence has left many students feeling unsafe and uncertain about their futures. Tariq Hathaleen, a local resident, described the situation as dire: “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, emphasized that “these attacks on the education of Palestinian children are not isolated incidents.” B’Tselem stated that “Israeli militias raid Palestinian villages to provoke confrontation,” leading to lethal responses against residents defending their homes.
The situation remains precarious as no clear resolution appears imminent. The international community continues to call for accountability regarding these acts of violence against educational institutions.
