Silwan: Targeting schools in the neighborhood of Ras Al-Amoud
Clashes broke out on Wednesday morning in the neighborhood of Ras Al-Amoud in Silwan after the occupation forces closed “Al-Mahdadeh” checkpoint for vehicles and busses and proceeded with provocative searching operations against the locals. Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the occupation forces closed Al-Mahdadeh checkpoint established near the entrance of Ras Al-Amoud and leads to the schools’ neighborhood under the pretext of throwing stones towards the soldiers stationed at the checkpoint which led to heavy traffic jams. The closure coincided with hundreds of students going to their schools as well as employees and workers heading to work outside the neighborhood of Ras Al-Amoud in addition to many people entering the neighborhood; this street is considered a main street connecting the neighborhood of Wad Qaddoum, village of Jabal Al-Mukabber and Al-Sal’a neighborhood. Witnesses explained to the center that several students were injured with rubber bullets in their legs during the clashes that broke out after the closure of the checkpoint; Israeli forces randomly fired sound grenades and rubber bullets in the area. The secretary of students’ parents’ district committee, Isam Abbasi, explained that the forces targeted Al-Shamilah Schools (Boys and Girls) in the neighborhood of Ras Al-Amoud with tear gas canisters and targeted Ras Al-Amoud Elementary and Secondary schools in the last two days with grenades. Abbasi denounced the Israeli targeting of Ras Al-Amoud schools and endangering the students’ lives under the pretext of “security and throwing stones” not to mention searching and harassing students in the morning and afternoon hours (while head to school and after leaving), and closing checkpoints in Ras Al-Amoud for no reason which negatively affects the flow of educational process on one hand and the academic achievement on the other hand.
