Ankara: A Palestinian man and a 16-year-old boy were killed late Wednesday by Israeli army sniper fire as residents confronted Israeli occupiers reportedly stealing sheep in Al-Mughayyir village, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victims as Omar Mohammed Naassan, 19, and Khalil Abu Alia, 16, saying both were killed by Israeli gunfire.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that its crews treated two Palestinians who were shot with live fire, one in the neck and the other in the back, during the attack by Israeli forces and occupiers on the village. Both individuals were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Amin Abu Alia, head of Al-Mughayyir village council, told the official Palestinian news agency Wafa that the fatalities occurred during an assault by Israeli occupiers accompanied by Israeli forces. He stated that the forces entered the center of the village near the Grand Mosque, attacked two homes, and stole sheep. Israeli military snipers reportedly took positions on buildings in the center of the village.
As residents attempted to confront the occupiers during the sheep theft, the snipers opened live fire, critically wounding the two Palestinians who later died while being transported to the hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the incident.
The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission noted that these deaths brought the number of Palestinians killed in incidents associated with attacks by Israeli occupiers since the beginning of 2026 to 27. Furthermore, it reported that 63 Palestinians have been killed in attacks by Israeli occupiers since October 7, 2023.
The village of Al-Mughayyir has faced repeated attacks by occupiers, accompanied by Israeli forces. Since the onset of Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip on October 8, 2023, the Israeli army and occupiers have intensified their operations across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. These operations have involved killings, arrests, forced displacements, home demolitions, and illegal settlement expansion.