Intense clashes broke out this morning between Palestinian citizens and officials, and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) who have ordered the closure of the Al-Lubban Al-Sawiya school, south of Nablus.

According to sources, IOF closed the three entrances to the school and fired teargas grenades towards the students and their parents. Palestinian officials who were present at the opening were injured, including Head of the local Council of the village, Samer Eweis, who was shot by rubber-coated metal bullet, and Minister of Education, Sabri Saidam, and the governor of Nablus Akram Rajoub, who suffered from teargas inhalation along with dozens of students.

Sources added that they closed t he school gates while there were still people inside it, while preventing other students from entering it.

The “Israeli military judge” has ordered closure of the school allegedly because the students throw stones at the settlers.

Minister of Education, Sabri Saidam stressed that challenging the decision to close the school emphasizes the determination and will to thwart the plans of the occupation and its flagrant violations and continuing crimes against the educational process, in addition to the infringement of the right of students to free and safe education.

The Minister pointed out that the ongoing violations of the Palestinians’ right to education are a natural result of the international silence on to the crimes of the occupation and its racism and plans aimed at striking the education system in Palestine as a whole.

On behalf of the educational family, Saidam renewed his call to all human and media organizations to defend the rights of children and the right to education in order to stand firm in the face of the practices of the occupation, which completely violate all laws and charters.