Barbed Wire Blocks Access to Education for Palestinian Children in Umm al-Khair

In Umm al-Khair, a Bedouin community in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, children are facing significant barriers to education due to a newly erected barbed wire fence. This fence, established by settlers from the adjacent illegal Israeli settlement of Carmel, blocks the traditional route to their school. On a recent Sunday, children, led by five-year-old Masa Hathaleen, marched towards the fence, pleading for access to their school. “We want to go to school. We are not doing anything wrong,” Masa stated, reflecting the sentiments of her peers who carried banners and sang songs in protest.

The blockade has emerged in the wake of a ceasefire that allowed Palestinian schools in the West Bank to reopen after a prolonged closure due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. However, the children found their path obstructed, leading to a tense standoff with Israeli soldiers who responded with tear gas and sound grenades. Khalil Hathaleen, head of the village council, described the situation as violent, noting that some children are now too frightened to return to the area.

The path blocked by the fence has been used by the community since 1980 and is recognized on both Israeli and Palestinian maps as a designated route for students. Despite the Israeli authorities offering an alternative route that is significantly longer and considered unsafe due to nearby settler outposts, the community has rejected it. The dangers have been exacerbated by incidents such as the recent injury of five-year-old Siwar Hathaleen, who was struck by a settler's car.

In response to the blockade, the community has initiated the “Umm al-Khair Freedom School,” conducting lessons outdoors near the fence. Tareq Hathaleen, a teacher, emphasized the right to education for all children, stating, “It’s not right to block their road.” The community's efforts aim to draw attention to their plight and advocate for their children's right to education.

Critics, including Khalil Hathaleen, argue that the blockade is part of a broader strategy by Israeli settlers and authorities to pressure the community and facilitate further settlement expansion. Khalil has called for intervention from human rights organizations, framing the blockade and impending demolition orders affecting the village as part of a campaign to erase Umm al-Khair.

Tariq Hathaleen noted the complicity of Israeli authorities in the situation, highlighting that the fence is on private land yet remains unaddressed by officials. The community's ongoing demonstrations, featuring lessons and music, serve as a means to resist the blockade and assert their right to education.

• “Education is a right for everyone, including the children of Umm al-Khair,” — Tareq Hathaleen, Teacher

• “You feel useless that kids can’t reach their school because of this blockade,” — Eid Hathaleen, Parent

• “We are children like the children of the rest of the world. They go to school, and we don’t. Why?” — Mira Hathaleen, Student

• “This is the only way. If we stay silent, no one will hear us.” — Khalil Hathaleen, Village Council Head

The community of Umm al-Khair continues to advocate for their children's right to education amidst ongoing challenges and threats to their existence.