Israeli Settlers Block Palestinian School Route with Barbed Wire and Tear Gas
Palestinian schoolchildren attempting to resume their education this week for the first time since the Iran war began were confronted by an improvised barbed wire fence erected overnight by Israeli settlers. The blockade, which included the use of tear gas and sound grenades, prevented students from reaching their classrooms in the village of Umm al-Khair in the occupied West Bank.
Decades-Old Path Blocked Overnight
Hajar and Rashid Hathaleen, siblings who have always walked to school from their neighborhood on the outskirts of Umm al-Khair, found their usual route obstructed by coiled barbed wire when classes resumed. According to video evidence provided by Palestinian residents to The Associated Press, Israeli settlers installed the fence overnight, cutting off access to the village center.
Palestinians describe this action as the latest in a series of efforts by settlers to expand control in an area where state-backed demolitions, arson, vandalism, and often lethal violence are rarely prosecuted. Khalil Hathaleen, head of the village council, stated that settlers are exploiting the cover of the Iran war to seize land, destroy olive groves, and conduct nighttime raids on nearby villages.
Confrontation and Military Response
On Monday and Tuesday, children including Hajar and Rashid waited near Israeli flags, the barbed wire, and newly felled trees as parents and village leaders demanded passage. They were met with plumes of tear gas and sound grenades hurled by armed men in an unmarked white truck, some of whom were uniformed soldiers, as shown in the video.
Israel’s military acknowledged using "riot dispersal means" outside the nearby settlement of Carmel, admitting children were present but claiming the measures targeted adults in the area, not the students. The Har Hevron Regional Council, representing the settlements, did not respond to inquiries about the fence.
Historical Context and International Concerns
Bedouins and other villagers have used the 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) path from Khirbet Umm al-Khair to the village center for decades. Khalil Hathaleen emphasized, "We are determined to keep it." This incident reflects a broader pattern where settlers erect fences or claim farmland, often with military backing, to restrict Palestinian movement as settlements multiply.
The international community overwhelmingly considers these settlements illegal, while Israel views the territory as disputed and subject to negotiations. Outposts built without official permission are sometimes dismantled, but authorities often turn a blind eye or retroactively legalize them.
Alternate Routes and Ongoing Risks
Israeli military civil administration suggested an alternate path for students, but parents argue it is roughly twice as long and more dangerous, passing near Carmel. Al-Mutasim Hathaleen, a parent, expressed deep concerns: "We have deep concerns as parents and as residents that the (Israeli) occupation and soldiers will attack students."
On Tuesday, some students reached school via buses on the alternate route, but classrooms remained half-empty and playgrounds deserted. School was cancelled on Wednesday due to Palestinian Authority salary cuts for teachers, but children plan to attempt their regular route again on Thursday, despite risks.
Escalating Violence and Impunity
Israeli officials have recently warned about intensifying violence and lawlessness by extremist settlers in the West Bank, where arsons and deadly attacks continue unabated. In 2026 alone, at least 35 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, with settlers responsible for eight deaths—matching the total for all of 2025.
The Israeli rights group B’Tselem, commenting after a settler killed a 23-year-old Palestinian man, described "daily unbridled violence" as Israeli government policy, noting many perpetrators are army reservists. "These militias are fully backed by the state of Israel and enjoy complete impunity for killing, assaulting and looting Palestinian residents," the group stated.
The plight of Umm al-Khair was highlighted in the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," but publicity has failed to curb land grabs or bloodshed. As settler attacks surge and military restrictions tighten, Palestinians say Israel is using the Iran war as cover to strengthen its grip on the territory.
