Israeli demolitions threaten schools and homes in Masafer Yatta | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Sundus al-Hamamdeh, a 12-year-old sixth-grade student, left her home in the village of Khirbet al-Fakhit, located in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank, on Tuesday morning to attend school. It marked the third day of the new school year.
However, upon returning home, she discovered that her house had been demolished. Israeli forces conducted a large-scale demolition operation in the village, destroying not only homes but also livestock shelters, water infrastructure, and solar power installations.
For al-Hamamdeh, her home represented more than just a physical structure; it was a source of security and comfort. In Masafer Yatta, which lies mostly in Area C of the West Bank, the threat of demolition looms over residents. Israeli authorities often justify these demolitions by claiming that the structures were built without permits. However, Palestinians, supported by the United Nations, argue that acquiring such permits is nearly impossible.
The demolition threat extends to schools as well. On August 4, Israeli forces surrounded the Shaab al-Butum school, leading to the demolition of two rooms used by teachers and administrators, as well as a storage area. The United Nations has documented this demolition, which was carried out under the claim of lacking a building permit. The primary school building remains at risk of demolition.
Shaab al-Butum school, established in 2015, serves approximately 60 students from kindergarten through 11th grade. Its remote location complicates the transfer of students to other schools, according to Bassam Jabr, the director-general of education in Masafer Yatta. Education officials have appealed to Israeli courts and have called for intervention from the United Nations and foreign governments, but the schools remain under constant threat amid ongoing violence against Palestinians across the West Bank.
Masafer Yatta faces unique challenges due to its remote communities, which often lack the means to defend themselves against systematic attacks. The Israeli military has designated large parts of the area as a military firing zone, further justifying the displacement of Palestinians.
Intisar Omar Abu Sabha, administrative director at the Masafer Yatta Directorate of Education, noted that several schools, including those in the communities of Zif, ar-Rifaiyah, Umm Qussa, Umm al-Kheir, Jinba, Shaab al-Butum, Khirbet al-Daba, and al-Majaz, are currently facing demolition orders. Students and teachers also encounter obstacles such as road closures, checkpoints, and settlers’ presence while traveling to school.
Abu Sabha described the precarious situation, emphasizing the emotional toll on children. “Imagine a student who is at school, then returns home and finds their house demolished… and comes back the next day to find their school demolished,” she said.
Yasmeen Sallaq, a Palestinian lawyer, highlighted how the threat to educational institutions directly undermines children’s right to education. She emphasized the challenges posed by Israeli restrictions on movement, military raids, and attacks that hinder students and education workers from exercising that right. “We face the demolition of schools every day, making the continuation of the educational process almost impossible,” Sallaq said.
At Zif Secondary School for Girls, headteacher Hanaa al-Salameen reported that approximately 250 students are enrolled. The school received its first demolition notice in 2016, and despite years of legal challenges, an appeal against its demolition was dismissed this year, although efforts are ongoing to secure an interim injunction.
The uncertain environment has led to rising anxiety among students, with some opting to transfer to different schools. “The school is not just a place for education,” al-Salameen said. “This school is the students’ only outlet.” She expressed concern that the school’s destruction could force some girls out of education altogether due to long travel distances or unsafe routes.
Rabiha Yousef Jibril, a 10th-grade student at Zif, underscored the school’s significance to her personal development. “I am growing up in this school, and my dreams are growing with me day by day,” she said, adding that despite fears of demolition, students vow to continue their studies. “Even if they demolish the school, we will continue to study, even under the trees,” she stated. “Even if they confiscate the books, we will keep them in our hearts, as well as our minds.”
