One Killed and Several Wounded as West Bank Violence Escalates — Jenin Raid and Settler Attacks Reported

Fresh violence erupted overnight across the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with the Israeli military saying it shot dead a Palestinian who allegedly tried to stab an Israeli soldier during operations in Jenin. Palestinian sources said forces also raided the man’s home during the incident.

Palestinian media additionally reported that a 14-year-old boy was wounded by Israeli gunfire during an operation in the town of Sababda in the northern West Bank. The Israeli military told reporters it has received inquiries about the incident and is investigating.

Jenin Incident
The army said troops were conducting an operation in Jenin, an area it regards as a militant stronghold, when soldiers opened fire on a suspect who, the military said, attempted to stab a soldier. No Israeli injuries were reported. Palestinian outlets said the man resisted while forces stormed his home and was shot during the confrontation. Several reports identified the deceased as the father of a Palestinian who carried out a deadly Tel Aviv attack in April 2022; the father was reported at the time to have praised his son’s actions.

Settler Violence and Hebron Area
Palestinian news agency WAFA reported fresh incidents of settler violence in the southern West Bank. According to WAFA, two Palestinians were shot and wounded by Israeli settlers in a town north of Hebron, one in life-threatening condition, and settlers set a house on fire. The Israeli military said it was looking into those reports after being asked for comment. WAFA also reported five additional injuries south of Hebron after settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes.

Kusra: Homes Besieged
In the village of Kusra in the northern West Bank, WAFA quoted village elder Abdul Asim al-Wadi as saying that radical settlers continued to besiege the homes of several Palestinian families, leaving residents unable to leave. The agency reported that food and some medicines were running short. A relative of the residents said occupants were remaining inside because they feared settlers might otherwise occupy their properties. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee was reported to have described the settlers in Kusra as "Israeli terrorists."

Wider Context
The security situation across the occupied West Bank has deteriorated sharply since the Hamas attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Gaza war. According to the Palestinian health ministry, more than 1,105 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since then during Israeli military operations, armed clashes or attacks. Violence by radical Israeli settlers against Palestinians has also been reported to have increased markedly, and critics say the Israeli military has sometimes been slow to respond to settler attacks.

Tensions have been further inflamed by a contested settlement initiative: Israel published a tender this week for more than 1,200 housing units in the so-called E1 area between East Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement. Critics warn that construction in E1 would effectively bisect the West Bank into northern and southern parts, complicating or potentially preventing the establishment of a contiguous territory for a future Palestinian state.

Note: Accounts in this report come from Israeli military statements and Palestinian media including WAFA. Some details remain under investigation and have been described differently by different sources.