Daijiworld Media Network - Nablus
Nablus, Nov 10: Israeli forces shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian boy and wounded two other teenagers during a raid on the village of Burqa in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the deceased boy on Tuesday as Moataz Iyad Daghlas and said Israeli authorities were withholding his body.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that two other teenagers were injured in the shooting. A 17-year-old was shot in the abdomen and pelvis, while a 19-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his hand.
The Israeli military confirmed the shooting in Burqa, near Nablus, saying its soldiers opened fire to prevent Palestinians from throwing stones at Israeli vehicles. In a statement, the military said its forces had responded with gunfire to neutralise the threat and that several hits had been confirmed.
According to Wafa, Israeli soldiers detained the boy's father and prevented an ambulance from reaching the wounded. They also briefly detained three volunteer paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society who were working in the area.
The incident comes amid a surge in violence by Israeli settlers and military forces in the occupied West Bank. The United Nations has described the level of settler violence as unprecedented, particularly following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent war on Gaza.
According to the UN, at least 1,143 Palestinians, including 250 children, have been killed in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023. The toll also includes Palestinians killed by Israeli settlers living in settlements considered illegal under international law.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) has said 2026 is on track to become the most violent year for settler-related violence since it began monitoring the territory a decade ago. In July alone, 11 people were killed in four incidents involving armed settlers alongside Israeli forces.
Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and el-Bireh have witnessed some of the worst incidents of settler violence in the occupied West Bank.