Palestinian Killed by Settlers' Gunfire in Northern West Bank

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A Palestinian was killed and another was injured today, Thursday, by Israeli settlers' gunfire during an attack on the village of Yasuf east of Salfit in the northern West Bank, according to Palestinian officials and the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the death of Mashhour Shaher Muhammad Yasin (51 years old) from gunfire by settlers in the village, while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that he was shot in the abdomen and transferred to Salfit Government Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead due to his injuries.

The head of the Yasuf Council, Jumaa Abdul Fattah, stated that a group of armed settlers with firearms and sticks attacked homes in the eastern area of the village, explaining that Yasin was injured after he went out to defend his home, and his nephew was also lightly injured.

Abdul Fattah added that the attackers came from the settlement outpost "Hafat Anton" which was established about two months ago near the village, noting that attacks by settlers on Yasuf have recurred since the establishment of the outpost.

The Israeli army stated that it has opened an investigation into the incident.

The incident comes amid escalating violence in the West Bank, as the United Nations reported that the Israeli army and settlers have killed more than 80 Palestinians since the beginning of 2026.

Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. At least 1,112 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since the war began, according to a tally by the French news agency based on data from the Palestinian Authority, while the United Nations states that settlers have killed at least 37 Palestinians during the same period.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, where approximately three million Palestinians and more than 500,000 Israeli settlers live, excluding East Jerusalem. The United Nations and most countries around the world consider Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law.