Israeli forces block Palestinian student protest after barring access to school

Israeli forces block Palestinian student protest after barring access to school Submitted by Sari Jaradat on Tue, 04/21/2026 - 14:45 The latest crackdown in Umm al-Khair comes amid increasing settler violence Residents of Umm al-Khair, Hebron, occupied West Bank, protest Israeli restrictions, 19 April 2026 (MEE/Sari Jaradat) Off Israeli forces dispersed a student protest in the village of Umm al-Khair on Sunday, after barring Palestinian residents from accessing schools for over a week Khalil Hathaleen, a local education official and a parent of two students, told Middle East Eye that his children were among 55 students barred from schools for the second week. Israeli troops, armed and accompanied by security dogs, were stationed alongside their vehicles at the protests, which were mostly attended by schoolchildren. The demonstration was sparked after residents were prevented from accessing a vital road between Khirbet Umm al-Khair and the nearby village of Umm al-Khair, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.