A 15-year-old Palestinian boy has died after being shot by Israeli forces during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, according to Palestinian media reports.
The teenager was critically wounded after being struck by live ammunition in the shoulder and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Thursday, citing medical sources.
Abood al-Aker, communications director for the Nablus municipality, told AFP that six Israeli military vehicles entered the city earlier in the day. He said troops were present in the commercial area of the Rafidia district, where they spoke with shopkeepers before the shooting occurred.
“They shot the boy while leaving the area. We don’t know the reason behind it,” al-Aker said.
In a statement, the Israeli military said its forces were conducting an “operational activity” in the Nablus area when a Palestinian allegedly threw stones at them. It said soldiers responded by initiating “standard suspect apprehension procedures,” which ended with live fire directed at the individual. The military added it was aware of reports that a Palestinian had been killed.
Rising Settler Violence in the West Bank
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in violence across the occupied Palestinian territories since the escalation of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank during this period, with widespread damage reported in several areas.
Separately, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli settlers shot and killed a 25-year-old Palestinian man in the town of Deir Dibwan, near Ramallah, a day earlier.
According to the ministry, at least 16 Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks so far this year. Victims range in age from 13 to 60, highlighting the growing toll of violence in the region.