In Al-Mughayyir, a village north-east of Ramallah, fear has become a daily reality. Six people, including three students, have been killed this year in a wave of settler-related violence. One of the victims, 14-year-old Aws al-Naasan, was shot dead by a settler outside the school gates in April. English teacher Waheed Abu Naem, who witnessed the attack, described the horror of the moment: 'When I turned him onto his back, I saw lots of blood coming from his nose and mouth, and the bullet in his head.' The Israeli military claimed the attack was in response to stones thrown at a car, but the incident has left the community in deep distress. Parents are now reluctant to send their children back to school, with some opting to station volunteers outside the school for protection. 'We fear for our children more this year,' said Haroon Bishara, a parent. 'We know the situation is not safe at the school.'

The violence has not only affected students but also the broader community. Over the summer, two more pupils were shot dead during settler attacks, along with a 19-year-old who had just left school. The Israeli military described these incidents as responses to 'violent riots,' but residents believe the attacks are part of a broader strategy to drive Palestinians from their land. Ambulance crews are now stationed outside the school, and the community has taken measures to protect its children, including installing barbed-wire fences and reinforcing school gates. Despite these efforts, the fear remains palpable. 'Children, seeing the army enter, don't grasp the gravity of the situation,' said local ambulance crew Hadi al-Naasan. 'Adults are more aware of how events can unfold.'

The situation in Al-Mughayyir is part of a larger pattern across the occupied West Bank, where illegal settler outposts are expanding, and Israeli forces are increasingly enabling settler incursions. UN reports have highlighted the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children by settlers, describing it as part of a 'coercive strategy' to displace Palestinians. 'Settlers have got closer to the village since April,' said Abu Naem. 'They used to keep their sheep behind this hill, but now the soldiers bring the settlers up to the village.' This encroachment has led to a rise in attacks on schools, farms, and homes, with the number of injuries and deaths increasing sharply. 'The number of martyrs is higher, the number of injuries is also much higher – and the number of child injuries is higher too,' said Hadi al-Naasan. The Israeli military has not responded to these allegations, and the regional settlers council has denied any involvement in the violence, calling the claims 'baseless.'

For families like that of Sami Abu Rahma, the violence has become a daily reality. His nine-year-old son Salim was shot and injured while playing on the family sheep farm. Security footage shows Salim pointing at settlers and running for shelter as gunshots are heard. 'In that moment, you stop thinking; you just feel fear,' said Sami. 'Fear that, God forbid, [the attacker] was shooting to kill.' The settler who shot his son lived in an illegal outpost that had appeared next to the farm in June. 'You no longer feel you can keep them safe in the street, or even at school,' said Sami. 'The settlers don't want us to stay here; they want us to feel as if there's no future for us here.'

As the conflict continues, Palestinian parents are facing a growing fear of losing their children if they remain on their land. The international community has condemned the expansion of Israeli settlements and the violence against Palestinians, with the UK expected to announce sanctions against Israeli settlement policies. Despite efforts to dismantle illegal outposts, attacks continue, and the situation remains dire. 'Children, seeing the army enter, don't grasp the gravity of the situation,' said Hadi al-Naasan. 'Adults are more aware of how events can unfold.' The fear in Al-Mughayyir is not just for the present, but for the future of the next generation. As the violence escalates, the community remains determined to protect its children, even in the face of overwhelming odds.