Two Killed in West Bank; Israel Says Knife Attacker Shot

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has reported that two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank on Friday, while the Israeli military stated that a man attempting a knife attack on settlers was shot and killed.

Additionally, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that a 14-year-old boy succumbed to injuries sustained earlier in the week during an Israeli military raid in the northern West Bank.

Hebron Incidents: Conflicting Reports

In the southern Hebron region, the PA reported:

A citizen was killed near Beit Fajjar by Israeli occupation forces.

The body is currently being withheld by Israeli authorities.

An Israeli military statement earlier referred to a similar incident, stating:

“A terrorist attempted to carry out an attack near the Israeli settlement of Migdal Oz and was neutralised by a settlement security guard.”

According to the military:

The man was seen running toward the community while wielding a knife.

He was shot dead by the security personnel.

No injuries were reported on the Israeli side.

The Israeli military told AFP that they are investigating whether this is the same case as the PA-reported death in Beit Fajjar.

In a separate incident in the Hebron area, the PA reported the death of:

Wadih Samamra, 19 years old, killed by Israeli gunfire.

As of now, no official comment has been released by Israel regarding this incident.

Death of 14-Year-Old from Earlier Raid

The Palestinian Health Ministry earlier confirmed the death of Mohammed Khaled Hassan Mabruk, aged 14, who died of serious wounds on Friday.

He had been shot during an Israeli raid in the Al-Ain refugee camp near Nablus on Wednesday.

The camp, located in the northern West Bank, has seen repeated military operations throughout the year.

While Palestinian media and the Israeli military confirmed that the raid was to arrest a wanted individual, the military declined to comment on the teenager’s death when contacted by AFP.

The Israeli army continues to label these missions as “counter-terrorism operations.”

Broader Context: Escalating West Bank Violence

Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, the West Bank has seen a sharp increase in violence.

Reported Deaths Since October 2023:

The West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967, remains a flashpoint for violence, with near-daily confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians amid rising tensions linked to events in Gaza.