Israeli forces carried out a large-scale demolition operation in the Masafer Yatta village of Khirbet al-Fakhit in the occupied West Bank, destroying homes, livestock shelters, water infrastructure, and solar-power installations, according to verified local accounts. The destruction left 12-year-old sixth-grade student Sundus al-Hamamdeh without her home upon returning from school on the third day of the new academic year.
Escalating Demolition Orders Across Area C Communities
Much of Masafer Yatta lies in Area C of the occupied West Bank, where Israel maintains full control over planning and construction. Israeli authorities justify the demolition orders by stating that the structures were built without permits, while Palestinians and the United Nations note that obtaining such permits is nearly impossible.
Makhamra stated that Israeli authorities had issued stop-work and stop-construction notices to the families about a month earlier before escalating them into full demolition orders. Human rights organizations have warned that removing residents from Masafer Yatta constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law. These administrative steps are routinely used as a prelude to the destruction of Palestinian properties in the South Hebron Hills, where communities face continuous land confiscation and military training zone designations.
Did You Know? Established in 2015, the Shaab al-Butum school in Masafer Yatta serves about 60 students from kindergarten through 11th grade, and its remote location makes transferring students to other schools particularly difficult, according to Bassam Jabr.
Threats to Schools and the Right to Education
Beyond residential homes, educational facilities across Masafer Yatta face active demolition orders and military raids. On August 4, Israeli forces surrounded the Shaab al-Butum school, and an Israeli military bulldozer demolished two rooms used by teachers and administrators alongside a storage room, according to Bassam Jabr, the director-general of education in Masafer Yatta. The United Nations independently documented the demolition, noting that authorities cited a lack of an Israeli-issued building permit.
Intisar Omar Abu Sabha, an administrative director at the Masafer Yatta Directorate of Education, stated that schools in Zif, ar-Rifaiyah, Umm Qussa, Umm al-Kheir, Jinba, Shaab al-Butum, Khirbet al-Daba, and al-Majaz are among those facing demolition orders. Palestinian lawyer Yasmeen Sallaq noted that these threats directly undermine children’s right to education. Sallaq added that movement restrictions, military raids, arrests, and settler attacks make the educational process almost impossible to sustain.
Uncertainty and Resilience at Zif Secondary School
At Zif Secondary School for Girls, which serves approximately 250 students, headteacher Hanaa al-Salameen reported that an appeal against a 2016 demolition notice was dismissed this year. Al-Salameen stated that the ongoing uncertainty has caused fear and anxiety among students, pushing some to transfer to other schools out of fear that its demolition will cut off their access to education entirely. Tenth-grade student Rabiha Yousef Jibril emphasized the students’ determination to keep learning despite the constant threat of destruction.
“Even if they demolish the school, we will continue to study, even under the trees,” Jibril said. “Even if they confiscate the books, we will keep them in our hearts, as well as our minds.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are homes and structures being demolished in Masafer Yatta?
Israeli authorities state that the targeted structures were built without permits in Area C, where Israel holds planning and construction control. Palestinians and the United Nations point out that obtaining construction permits is nearly impossible for local residents.
Which specific communities are facing demolition threats?
According to education officials and local activists, communities facing demolition orders include Khirbet al-Fakhit, Umm Qussa, Zif, ar-Rifaiyah, Umm al-Kheir, Jinba, Shaab al-Butum, Khirbet al-Daba, and al-Majaz.
How are students and teachers affected by these operations?
Students and educators face the loss of their homes and classrooms, alongside road closures, checkpoints, settler incursions, and military raids that disrupt access to educational facilities across the region.
What steps can international organizations take to protect schools and homes in vulnerable West Bank communities?
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