The shooting of Aws al-Naasan, a 14-year-old boy, outside his school in Mughayyir on April 21, 2026, underscores escalating violence against Palestinian education. Aws was shot in the head by an Israeli reservist amid rising settler violence targeting schools and students in the occupied West Bank.
Classes at Mughayyir boys’ secondary school were suspended for a week following the killings of Aws and another student, Jihad Abu Naim. Just after Aws’s death, Israeli settlers attacked and demolished a British- and European-funded school for Palestinian children.
Israeli military actions have frequently disrupted education in Mughayyir. Checkpoints instill fear among students, hindering their access to learning. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have killed at least 792 teachers and 18,639 students in Gaza.
Key incidents:
- Aws al-Naasan was studying in ninth grade when he was shot.
- Settlers used bulldozers to raze classrooms and playgrounds at a school in Hammamat al-Maleh.
- Ahmed Abu Ali, a friend of Aws, stated: “We want to go back to school, but our families are worried.”
James Elder from Unicef remarked that these attacks on Palestinian children’s education are not isolated incidents. Tariq Hathaleen emphasized the importance of safe routes for children: “This path is not just a road; it is the lifeline that connects our children to their education.”
B’Tselem reported that Israeli militias provoke confrontations to justify lethal responses against residents defending their homes. The situation remains tense as further developments unfold.
