THE JORDAN VALLEY, April 21, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli colonists demolished the Al-Maleh School in the northern Jordan Valley last night.

The head of the Al-Maleh village council, Mahdi Daraghmeh, reported that settlers stormed the community and demolished the school and surrounding homes.

He added that the colonists' ongoing attacks had previously forced Palestinian families to leave the area.

Meanwhile, Azmi Balawneh, the Director of Education in Tubas, stated that approximately 70 students, from first to fourth grade, were receiving their basic education at the targeted school.

He added that due to colonists attacks that caused families to flee the area, the number of students dwindled to 30, then to 16, before the school was completely emptied after all the families were displaced.

The school employed seven staff members, including the principal, five teachers, and a services courier.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education said that al-Maleh School served around 70 students, from kindergarten through fourth grade, and has been subjected to repeated attacks, including vandalism, destruction of facilities and obstructing the access of its students.

The demolition of the school comes amid mounting challenges facing the education sector in Palestine, particularly in highly threatened areas such as the northern Jordan Valley. These attacks negatively impact the learning environment and disrupt its stability and continuity.

Targeting educational institutions and infrastructure is a violation of international laws and conventions that guarantee the right to education, which must be protected and upheld in a safe and stable environment.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education stresses the urgent need to protect educational institutions from such attacks. It also affirms its commitment, in cooperation with international and local partners, to strengthening the resilience of schools and students and ensuring the continuity of education under all circumstances.

K.T