As the new school year begins, children in Masafer Yatta, located in the southern occupied West Bank, are facing uncertainty regarding the future of their school. Farah, Mohammed, and Jawad, aged 17, 8, and 7 respectively, attend Shaab al-Butum school, which has recently lost two administrative rooms and a storage room due to demolitions by Israeli forces on August 4.
The United Nations reports that Israel justified these demolitions by claiming the structures were built without the necessary Israeli-issued building permits, which are difficult for Palestinians to obtain in Area C of the West Bank, under Israeli control. The remaining part of the school is also at risk, with a court case scheduled for September 15 regarding its potential demolition.
The children's return to education is now clouded with anxiety as they fear the complete loss of their village's only school and the possibility of further confrontations with Israeli forces. Farah expressed her concerns to Al Jazeera, stating that the school was the only one she had ever attended, while Mohammed voiced his worry that Israeli forces might return to demolish what remains of the school. Jawad expressed sadness over the damage and hoped for the school's restoration.
Nidal Younis, head of the Masafer Yatta local council, indicated that these concerns reflect a broader threat to education in the area, which has faced repeated targeting by Israeli authorities and settlers. He noted that Masafer Yatta was declared a closed military firing zone in the 1980s, which has been used to justify attempts to displace local Palestinians.
Younis described the situation as a recurring test each school year, highlighting the escalation of demolition policies and settler violence. He stated that all seven schools in the wider Masafer Yatta area are currently threatened with demolition, expressing uncertainty about their survival through the academic year.
Activist and teacher Tariq Hathaleen emphasized that the uncertainty surrounding demolitions and the expansion of settlement outposts have heightened insecurity among residents. He noted that residents are often not informed in advance about impending demolitions. Hathaleen also recounted an incident from the previous academic year where settlers attacked Ras Ein al-Auja school in the Jordan Valley, underscoring that schools are no longer safe from such violence.
Hathaleen characterized the targeted schools, built by the Palestinian Ministry of Education to serve marginalized areas, as essential community structures beyond just educational facilities.
Data from the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reveals that 84 Palestinian schools serving nearly 13,000 students are currently facing demolition or stop-work orders. Amir Dawoud, a senior official with the commission, noted that the most immediate legal threats are concentrated in southern Hebron, particularly in Masafer Yatta, and at al-Walaja school near Bethlehem, which Israel claims lacks a building permit.
Dawoud explained that the impact of demolition orders begins well before any physical destruction occurs, causing uncertainty and disruption for students, teachers, and families. He described the situation as a systematic pattern that extends beyond individual cases, affecting education, housing, freedom of movement, and livelihoods, ultimately targeting the ability of Palestinian communities to survive.