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'Deeply disturbing': UN envoy slams Israel’s demolition of Palestinian school

Palestinians gather at the site of a demolished school in the village of Jabbet al-Dhib, east of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, on May 7, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

The United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East has condemned the demolition of an EU-funded primary school in the occupied West Bank, describing the move as "deeply disdaining."

Tor Wennesland said in a tweet on Monday he was “deeply disturbed by the 7 May demolition by Israeli authorities of an EU-funded school in Area C, directly affecting 40+ children.”

“A child’s right to education must be respected,” he said. “I call on Israeli authorities to cease such demolitions and evictions which are illegal under international law, and to approve plans for Palestinian communities to build legally in Area C to address their development needs, including for schools.”

He said such acts that negatively impact basic service delivery for the Palestinians threaten stability and undermine the Palestinian Authority.

On Sunday, Israeli forces raided Beit Ta’mir village and demolished Challenge 5 School.

According to witnesses, dozens of Israeli soldiers cordoned off the area around the school, and a bulldozer flattened it shortly afterward.

The school, which was built of makeshift material, was attended by 66 Palestinian students. It had been demolished in 2017 before being rebuilt the same year.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education also denounced the move as “a heinous crime.”

Also on Sunday, Israeli forces demolished several other Palestinian-owned structures, including two homes under construction in the eastern West Bank town of al-Auja, a guest house in al-Jiftlik village as well as a car-wash workshop in the village of Ferdis.

 


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