Israeli Soldiers Tear Gas Palestinian Children in Response to Peaceful Sit-In
- Human Rights Research Center
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Author: Aahana Nagwekar
April 21, 2026
HRRC condemns the use of tear gas by Israeli forces on civilians participating in a peaceful protest about the violations of their right to education. This tactic instills fear and should not be used during any peaceful protest, especially when children are present.
![Palestinian adults and schoolchildren sitting in front of Israel installed barbed wire blocking off the road to their school. [Image credit: Anadolu/Getty Images, The Guardian]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_bd55bae36cd94e9cba9d9d04a760a85d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_39,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_bd55bae36cd94e9cba9d9d04a760a85d~mv2.png)
Over the past week, Palestinian schoolchildren, educators, and family members have staged a sit-in protest in the Masafer Yatta area of Palestine in response to Israeli forces closing their schools, allegedly due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Teachers and children protested by holding an open-air class near newly-installed barbed wire in the Israeli occupied West Bank area. During the class, soldiers approached the crowd, claiming it to be an “unusual gathering”, and physically barred children from going into the school.
When students further persisted in passing through, soldiers fired tear gas, claiming to target the adults in the area, but inevitably hitting the entire crowd. The use of this chemical agent created immense fear and panic, heightening the intensity of a situation consisting mainly of children.
However, this did not diminish their resolve. In response, the Director of Education of the Masafer Yatta area stated that sit-ins like these will continue to take place regardless of the opposition they face in order to get their schools back.
This incident is one of many examples that demonstrate the rights abuses Palestinian civilians are facing in the West Bank. In the Masafer Yatta area in particular, there has been a significant rise in the infringement on schools and the education sector. In fact, there have been multiple instances of threats and increased restrictions on educational activity.
It appears the Israeli government is using the US-Israel-Iran conflict as an excuse to target more Palestinians and restrict their right to education, another violation of international human rights law.
Glossary
Barbed Wire – a wire or strand of wires having small pieces of sharply pointed wire twisted around it, used for keeping out trespassers
Barred – prevented from doing something
Chemical Agent – toxic chemicals designed to cause intentional death, injury, or harm through their chemical properties
Civilian – a person who is not on active duty with a military, naval, police, or fire fighting organization
Crackdowns – the severe or stern enforcement of regulations, laws, etc.
Exemplified – shown or demonstrated by or as an example
Inevitably – in a way that cannot be avoided or escaped; as will certainly or necessarily happen
Infringement – a breach of a law, right, or obligation
Open Air – outdoors
Regulations – a law, rule, or other order prescribed by authority to adjust to some standard or requirement
Sit-In – any organized protest in which a group of people peacefully occupy and refuse to leave an area
Tear Gas – a gas that makes the eyes water, thus producing a temporary blindness, used in modern warfare and to stop riots
Violation – a breach of a law, rule, or promise
References