Two Palestinians killed, four wounded in West Bank settler attack on school

The Jerusalem Post reports on a deeply disturbing incident in the West Bank village of Mughayir, where Israeli settlers allegedly attacked a local school, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinians and injuries to four others. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the fatalities, identifying one victim as a 14-year-old boy. This event, framed by some as a 'massacre,' underscores the volatile nature of settler-Palestinian relations in the region.

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It seems to me that if it were the other way around, the Israeli media would immediately publish: 'Terrorists carried out a massacre of students and residents.'

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that their troops were deployed following reports of rocks being thrown at an Israeli vehicle, and that a reserve soldier within that vehicle opened fire. The IDF has acknowledged the claims of Palestinian deaths and injuries and stated that the incident is under review, with findings to be transferred to the relevant authorities. This response highlights the standard procedure for investigating such clashes, though the outcome of such reviews is often a point of contention.

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The IDF is aware of the claim regarding two Palestinians who were killed, and additional injuries. The incident is under review, and its findings will be transferred to the relevant authorities.

MK Ahmad Tibi sharply criticized the attack, labeling it a 'massacre' and accusing the Israeli media of hypocrisy. He further alleged that the attack was supported by the Israeli government, which he claims 'budgets, supports, and encourages the pogroms' carried out by settlers. Tibi's strong condemnation reflects a perspective widely held among Palestinian and some Israeli critics who view settler violence as systemic and often tacitly endorsed by official policies. The differing narratives—one of self-defense following an attack on a vehicle, the other of a premeditated assault on a school—illustrate the deep chasm in understanding and reporting such events from within the West Bank.

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The settlers had fired directly into the classrooms of the school.