Two Palestinians killed and Israeli settler wounded in West Bank violence

Two Palestinians were killed and one Israeli settler was seriously wounded during separate incidents of violence in the occupied West Bank on Monday. In the village of Hajja, northern West Bank, residents reported that approximately nine armed settlers raided the village. Residents stated that Israeli troops approached from the opposite side, trapping Palestinians between the soldiers and the settlers. Both the settlers and troops opened fire, resulting in the death of a 19 year old Palestinian and injuries to three others. The Israeli military stated that troops deployed to the area after reports that Israelis had entered the village. According to the military, Palestinians threw stones at troops, who then fired warning shots and targeted key instigators. A resident, Ziad Batta, claimed that both settlers and army vehicles fired tear gas, stun grenades, and live ammunition.

In a separate incident, a 34 year old Palestinian entered a settler outpost near Qusra and critically wounded a 20 year old Israeli settler with a stabbing. The Israeli military reported that the man was later located near a village to the west, where he attempted to stab soldiers before being shot and killed by a military commander. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished the wounded settler a full recovery and stated that Israel would continue to eliminate terrorists and destroy terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.

These events occur amid rising tensions involving Israeli settler outposts. Reuters reported that Netanyahu ordered the dismantling of some outposts following pressure from Washington, although his office did not immediately comment on the order. While the current government has supported many outposts and granted some retroactive legal status, UN bodies and most governments consider all settlements in the occupied territory illegal under international law. Israel rejects this view and considers the territory disputed.