Two Palestinians Killed in Attack Involving Settlers and Soldiers, Officials Report

Officials in the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir confirmed the deaths of two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, during an assault that involved Jewish settlers and Israeli military personnel. The incident occurred on Tuesday, according to Palestinian authorities. The mayor of the village, Amin Abu Alia, shared with the BBC that approximately 10 settlers had joined Israeli soldiers in targeting the community, beginning their attack by firing at a school.

Officials’ Accounts

The Palestinian health ministry attributed the fatalities to “settler gunfire,” while Israel’s military stated it sent troops after receiving reports of stones being thrown at an Israeli vehicle carrying civilians. A reservist exited the car and began shooting at individuals in the area, prompting soldiers to intervene to halt the escalating confrontation.

“The school was surprised by herds of settlers, who attacked the school along with the army.” – Kathem al-Haj Ahmed, 57, a resident of al-Mughayyir.

Additional footage from the scene shows an Israeli soldier discharging gunfire, while other clips depict chaos at the school’s entrance as medical staff and parents rushed to assist the victims. Ahmed added, “So they [the school] started to call the people to come and escort their children home, and that is when the settlers shot from one side and the army from the other.”

Condemnation and Context

The Palestinian foreign ministry denounced the event as a “terrorist attack and massacre” orchestrated by settler groups in coordination with the Israeli occupation forces. This marks another instance in a series of settler-driven violence, as the United Nations highlights a recent spike in such incidents.

Since the beginning of 2026, the UN has recorded at least 10 Palestinian deaths and 385 injuries caused by settlers across the West Bank. Notably, six people were killed in March alone, when the organization documented over 200 attacks resulting in casualties or property damage—around six incidents per day. The UN also reported that approximately 1,750 Palestinians have been displaced due to settler violence and Israeli restrictions this year.

“This is our reality in al-Mughayyir village; it’s a displacement operation.” – Kathem al-Haj Ahmed, 57, a resident of al-Mughayyir.

Human rights organizations have accused the Israeli military of enabling extremist settlers to act without consequence. Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has constructed about 160 settlements, home to 700,000 Jews, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—territories Palestinians seek for a future state, along with Gaza. Around 3.3 million Palestinians reside in proximity to these settlements, which are classified as illegal under international law.