Palestinian Teenager Killed in West Bank Operation Near Nablus

Israeli forces shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy and wounded two other teenagers during an operation in the West Bank village of Burqa on Tuesday. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the deceased youth as Moataz Iyad Daghlas and stated that Israeli authorities have retained custody of his body.

The Israeli military confirmed the operation near Nablus, stating that soldiers opened fire to protect vehicles from stone-throwing. In an official statement, the military explained that forces responded with gunfire to neutralise the threat and several hits were confirmed.

Details provided by the Palestinian news agency Wafa indicated that the operational fire injured a 17-year-old in the abdomen and pelvis, alongside a 19-year-old who sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. The agency reported that Israeli forces also detained the father of the deceased teenager while troops were deployed in the village.

Local reporting further pointed to delays in medical response during the events in Burqa. Wafa stated that military personnel blocked an emergency ambulance from reaching the wounded and briefly held three volunteer paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society who were providing aid at the scene.

The fatal shooting occurs against the backdrop of increased security operations and clashes across the West Bank following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Data compiled by the United Nations records at least 1,143 Palestinian fatalities in the territory since October 2023, a figure that includes 250 children and encompasses deaths resulting from actions by both military forces and Israeli settlers.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project reported that settler-related violence in 2026 is on track to reach its highest level since the organisation began monitoring the West Bank a decade ago. The monitoring group recorded 11 deaths in July alone across four separate incidents involving armed settlers operating alongside military personnel, with high activity concentrated around Nablus, Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, and el-Bireh.

Written by Christiane Hofreiter christiane.hofreiter@alpineweekly.com