Israeli Forces Detain 40 Palestinians, Disrupt Education in West Bank
Israeli forces continued their siege and raid of the town of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, for a second consecutive day on Sunday. The operation involved widespread searches and the detention of at least 40 Palestinians. The entrance to the town was sealed, and military presence was increased throughout its streets. Local sources reported that Israeli forces deployed military reinforcements and infantry units, raiding dozens of homes, searching them, and tampering with contents. Several residents were subjected to field interrogations. The home of the Shaker Sari Abu Aliya family was reportedly turned into a military barracks where detainees were taken. Approximately 15 vehicles were confiscated. Israeli forces and settlers also allegedly assaulted Palestinians, causing some to suffer from suffocation. Sources indicated the theft of money and gold jewelry, valued in the tens of thousands of shekels, from some homes.
In parallel with the raid, school activities in Al-Mughayyir were suspended to ensure the safety of students and staff amidst the ongoing military presence and road closures. Al-Mughayyir has been subjected to repeated settler attacks and near-daily incursions by Israeli forces.
Separately, on Sunday morning, Israeli forces prevented dozens of teachers from reaching their schools in the northern Jordan Valley. This coincided with a tightened siege on the area and attempts by foreign solidarity activists to reach Khirbet Al-Ras Al-Ahmar to support residents. According to Azmi Balawneh, director of education in Tubas, 104 teachers were unable to reach their schools due to the closure of the Tayasir and Ain Al-Shibli checkpoints. Balawneh stated that the checkpoint closures disrupted the educational process for approximately 1,100 students in six public schools and a kindergarten. The area of Khirbet Al-Ras Al-Ahmar, home to about 200 Palestinians from 25 families, has been under a military blockade. Foreign solidarity activists attempted to reach the village to offer support amidst its isolation. The community, which relies on agriculture and herding, faces escalating restrictions, including the construction of settlement roads, the establishment of buffer walls, the bulldozing of agricultural land, and disruptions to water networks and movement. Farmers and shepherds have also faced repeated raids, detentions, and confiscation of equipment, hindering their livelihoods. Northern Jordan Valley schools, students, and staff are frequently affected by such measures, impacting the regularity of education.
