Settlers and Israeli soldiers besiege Bethlehem school

A group of settlers and Israeli occupation forces besieged Al-Minya Secondary School in the town of Teqoa, southest of occupied Bethlehem, today preventing students and staff from leaving.

A student and a number of staff members have been detained.

Sharid Farouk, deputy head of the school, said students were chased by settlers while they were on their way to school this morning to sit their exams.

Primary school student Mahdi Al-Kawazabah and Muhammad Al-Qurna, a teacher, were handcuffed and arrested. Another teacher, Khalid Al-Araisi had his identity cards taken from him.

Two settler cars and five jeeps belonging to the occupation forces surrounded the school, Farouk explained.

He said a number of teachers had positioned themselves at the school gates to prevent settlers from entering the premises while other remained with the students inside the building.