An Israeli national was found shot dead in the Palestinian town of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank on Saturday morning, as confirmed by Israel's army. The man was pronounced dead after being fatally shot, and Israeli troops are currently operating in the area. This incident follows the killing of two militants by Israeli forces in the same town the day before. Further details about the incident have not been disclosed.
Violence has been escalating in the West Bank since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 549 Palestinians in the territory have been killed by Israeli fire during this period. In response, Palestinians in the West Bank have killed at least nine Israelis, including five soldiers, as reported by U.N. data.
Israeli nationals are prohibited from entering Qalqilya and other areas of the West Bank under the control of the Palestinian Authority. In April, the death of a 14-year-old Israeli settler led to a series of settler attacks on Palestinian towns. The Israeli army stated that the boy was murdered, and a Palestinian was later arrested in connection with the killing.
The abduction and killing of three Israeli teens in the West Bank in 2014 heightened tensions and triggered a 50-day Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, marking a deadly escalation in the conflict between the two sides. In recent years, the influence of the Palestinian Authority in the northern West Bank has diminished as militant groups have gained strength.
Additionally, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported the death of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who succumbed to his wounds after being shot by Israeli forces in Ramallah the previous week. The Israeli army explained that its forces had conducted a raid in al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah to apprehend a suspect and resorted to firing when confronted by Palestinians throwing stones.
The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. Israel responded by launching airstrikes and incursions into Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 37,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians aspire to establish an independent state encompassing these territories.
