Israeli Forces Fire Teargas at Palestinian Schoolchildren in West Bank Sit-In

Israeli forces fired teargas at Palestinian schoolchildren staging a sit-in in the occupied West Bank after settlers blocked access to their school.

The incident took place at Umm al-Khair, where children and residents had gathered near a barbed wire fence erected by Israeli settlers.

Al Jazeera

Twelve-year-old Sarah al-Hathaleen told AFP, We were sitting and they threw a grenade at us. I got scared and started screaming and ran away.

The Israeli military confirmed it had dispersed an unusual gathering but did not specify whether troops had fired teargas.

The Masafer Yatta region is a known hotspot for settler violence and Palestinian home demolitions.

The sit-in was organized after Israeli settlers erected a barbed wire barrier blocking the road leading to the school.

Local education director Bassam Jabr said settlers are trying to tighten the noose on us in every way.

Muslim Network TV

He confirmed the children were staging a sit-in at the time of the incident.

Eleven-year-old Rashid al-Hathaleen said we were excited for school today.

The Israeli military said troops were dispatched and the gathering was dispersed with no injuries reported.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of Israel's ongoing occupation of the West Bank since 1967.

“Israeli forces have fired teargas at Palestinian schoolchildren who were staging a sit-in in the occupied West Bank after settlers blocked access to their school”

The Guardian

More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements regarded as illegal under international law.

The Masafer Yatta region has long been a focal point of settler violence and displacement efforts.

Palestinian residents say such incidents have intensified in recent months.

The killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen by a settler underscores the lethal consequences of the occupation.