Illegal settlers raid school in occupied West Bank, replace Palestinian flag with Israeli one

Illegal Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces, carry out raids and attacks on Palestinian properties in the occupied West Bank. (Photo/AA)

The recent raid by illegal Israeli settlers on the Hawara Secondary School for Boys in the occupied West Bank underscores the escalating instability and threats faced by Palestinian educational institutions. By forcefully removing the Palestinian flag and replacing it with an Israeli one, alongside the defacement of property with derogatory and racist graffiti, the intruders directly assaulted the security and dignity of the student population. This event is not an isolated incident but represents a broader, deeply concerning trend of settler aggression that has intensified significantly since late 2023, creating an environment where the fundamental right to education is increasingly compromised by intimidation and physical danger.

Illegal settlers stormed Hawara Secondary School for Boys, vandalizing the premises and replacing the Palestinian flag with an Israeli one.
The attack included the use of racist graffiti, specifically targeting the dignity of the local population and demonstrating a clear intent to intimidate.
The Palestinian Education Ministry has formally condemned the act as a violation of educational sanctity and a direct threat to the safety of students and staff.
Data indicates a sharp rise in settler-related violence, with hundreds of incidents reported in recent months, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the occupied West Bank.
The incident follows the July 2024 International Court of Justice ruling that declared the ongoing occupation and settlements to be illegal under international law.

Illegal Israeli settlers stormed a school early on Monday in the occupied West Bank, removing the Palestinian flag and spraying racist graffiti on the walls, local sources reported.

The Hawara Secondary School for Boys, south of Nablus, was targeted as the settlers lowered the Palestinian flag and raised the Israeli flag on the school pole. Racist slogans in Hebrew, including “death to Arabs,” were scrawled on the walls.

The Palestinian Education Ministry condemned the attack as a violation of the sanctity of educational institutions, describing it as part of “a series of ongoing violations targeting schools, students, and educational staff” that threaten the right to learn in a safe environment.

Increasing violence by illegal settlers

In February alone, illegal settlers carried out 511 attacks across occupied West Bank, killing seven Palestinians by gunfire. Since Israel's genocide in Gaza began on October 8, 2023, Israeli forces and illegal settlers have killed 1,133 Palestinians, injured around 11,700, and arrested roughly 22,000.

The International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.

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Source: TRT