Demolition of Yanoun School
Israeli settlers demolished the Yanoun Mixed Basic School in a hamlet south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Friday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The school served about 15 pupils from first to sixth grade.
Context of the Attack
In a statement, the ministry said the school was destroyed around eight months after residents of Yanoun were forcibly displaced. The ministry described the demolition as “a new crime against Palestinian children” and said it violated international humanitarian law and conventions protecting the right to education and prohibiting attacks on schools.
Impact on Education
The school had served as a vital educational facility for the community, ensuring children had access to primary education. The ministry accused Israel of pursuing a systematic policy aimed at undermining the Palestinian education system, increasing pressure on communities and depriving children of their right to learn.
Response and Calls for Action
The ministry said it would continue working with its partners to ensure affected students can continue their education despite what it described as ongoing violations. It also called on the international community, the UN, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to protect education in the Palestinian territories, hold Israel accountable for what it described as repeated violations against students and schools, and end the targeting of educational institutions.
