Israeli settlers block Palestinian kids’ path to school with tear gas and barbed wire

Key Points:

• Israeli settlers installed barbed wire blocking the path of Palestinian children Hajar and Rashid Hathaleen to their school in Umm al-Khair, West Bank, amid rising settler violence and land seizures.
• Palestinians accuse settlers of exploiting the Iran war to expand control in the occupied West Bank through land grabs, demolitions, and attacks, while Israeli military imposes stricter movement restrictions citing security concerns.
• Attempts by villagers and parents to allow children safe passage to school were met with tear gas and sound grenades from Israeli forces, who claim their actions targeted adults, not children.
• The international community largely deems Israeli settlements illegal, but Israel considers the territory disputed and sometimes retroactively legalizes outposts; Palestinians face restricted movement and lack viable alternatives for safe travel.
• Violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank has surged, with at least 35 Palestinians killed in 2026, prompting criticism from Israeli rights groups that accuse the government of backing settler militias and allowing impunity for attacks.