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Israeli Demolitions Threaten Schools and Homes in Masafer Yatta
Developing
In Short: On August 4, Israeli forces surrounded Shaab al-Butum school, disrupting education in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces surrounded Shaab al-Butum school on August 4, according to Bassam Jabr, the director-general of education in Masafer Yatta. The UN documented the demolition of the rooms, citing the lack of an Israeli-issued building permit.
The remote location of the school makes transferring students to other schools particularly difficult, Jabr said. Education officials have appealed to Israeli courts and called for intervention from the United Nations and foreign governments.
Abu Sabha reported that schools in Masafer Yatta have faced damage and settler incursions or harassment. 'We face the demolition of schools every day, making the continuation of the educational process almost impossible,' said Sallaq. Some girls are experiencing fear and anxiety, while others have transferred to different schools, al-Salameen said.
On Tuesday morning, 12-year-old Sundus al-Hamamdeh left her home in Khirbet al-Fakhit and went to school, as Israeli forces carried out a large-scale demolition operation, destroying homes, livestock shelters, water infrastructure, and solar-power installations. For children in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, the spectre of demolition is always present. Much of Masafer Yatta lies in Area C of the West Bank, where Israel has control over planning and construction. Israeli authorities justify the demolition orders by saying the structures were built without permits, a claim Palestinians, backed by the United Nations, dispute as nearly impossible to obtain.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.
Sources
- Al Jazeeralink