Israeli Settler Kills Palestinian Teenager in West Bank Town of Tuqu' Amid Rising Violence

Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, with the UN reporting a record high number of settler attacks against Palestinians. The latest incident involves the killing of a 16-year-old Palestinian, Muheeb Jibril, in the town of Tuqu'.

On Tuesday, an Israeli settler reportedly shot and killed 16-year-old Muheeb Jibril in the head near the main street of Tuqu' following the funeral of another teenager killed the day before.

Tuqu' Mayor Mohammed al-Badan reported that a settler shot Jibril while youths were gathered by the main street.

An Israeli security source stated that an Israeli civilian opened fire on masked individuals throwing stones and paint bottles at Israeli civilian vehicles. The Israeli civilian was taken for police questioning.

The shooting occurred after the funeral of 16-year-old Ammar Sabah, who was killed on Monday by the Israeli army during a military raid in Tuqu'.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed Sabah's death. The Israeli military said they are reviewing the incident, stating that soldiers used riot dispersal means and later fire in response to rocks being thrown at them.

The West Bank, home to 2.7 million Palestinians under Israeli military occupation and hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers, continues to see high tension. Most world powers deem the settlements illegal.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Jennifer Locetta, told the Security Council that the U.S. remains focused on stability in the region and expects the violence in the West Bank to end, stressing the U.S. will not allow the annexation of the West Bank.

Separately, the Israeli military announced plans to demolish several structures in the northern Nur al-Shams refugee camp, citing the camps as "centers of gravity for terrorist activity." Palestinian media reported the mayor of Tulkarm condemned the move as a "fully fledged crime."