Demolition of Yanoun School raises concerns over future of Palestinian village near Nablus

The demolition of the Yanoun Mixed Elementary School by settlers on Wednesday has intensified concerns over the future of the Palestinian village of Yanoun, east of Nablus, with local officials describing the incident as part of a broader effort to prevent displaced residents from returning.

According to Palestinian officials, Yanoun was largely depopulated about eight months ago after repeated settler attacks and escalating security pressures prompted dozens of families to leave the village.

Rashid Marar, head of the Yanoun Village Council, said the destruction of the school was not an isolated act but part of what he described as a systematic campaign to remove all remaining signs of Palestinian life in the village.

“The school was not just classrooms; it was a symbol of life in Yanoun,” Marar said. He argued that its demolition sends a message intended to discourage former residents from returning to their homes and agricultural land.

Iyad Awad, media director for the Nablus Directorate of Education, condemned the demolition, saying it represented a serious violation of children’s right to education.

He said the school had served as both an educational institution and a symbol of the community’s resilience, adding that its destruction further undermines access to education for displaced children and their families.

Palestinian officials and education authorities contend that attacks on schools in Bedouin and rural communities have become part of a wider pattern affecting vulnerable Palestinian localities, arguing that the loss of educational facilities increases pressure on families to relocate permanently.