A 14-year-old Palestinian boy has been shot and killed by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank, as rights groups warn that Palestinian children are increasingly being targeted amid a sharp escalation in Israeli military and settler violence across the territory.
The killing of Mohammed Naasan occurred on Friday in the village of al-Mughayyir, located northeast of Ramallah, during an Israeli military incursion that residents say turned deadly as soldiers opened fire on civilians.
Fatal Shooting in al-Mughayyir
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces stormed al-Mughayyir and assaulted residents, firing live ammunition as clashes erupted. Naasan was shot in the back and chest, suffering fatal injuries.
The Israeli military confirmed the killing in a statement, claiming troops shot the teenager because he was “running towards them carrying a rock.” Palestinian witnesses and local officials strongly dispute that account.
Amin Abu Aliya, head of al-Mughayyir’s village council, said Israeli settlers — protected by Israeli soldiers — had earlier attacked areas south of the village.
“They stormed the village as worshippers were leaving the mosque after Friday prayers,” Abu Aliya said. “They fired directly at civilians and threw tear gas and stun grenades.”
Settler Attacks Under Military Protection
Local residents reported that Israeli settlers fired live ammunition earlier in the day, before the military raid intensified. Such attacks, often carried out under army protection, have become increasingly common across the occupied West Bank.
Human rights groups say the combination of settler violence and military force has created a climate of near-daily danger for Palestinian communities, particularly in rural villages close to illegal Israeli settlements.
Rising Toll on Palestinian Children
The killing of Mohammed Naasan comes amid alarming statistics documenting a surge in violence against Palestinians, including children.
According to United Nations data, at least 240 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2025, including 55 children, by Israeli forces or settlers.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also recorded more than 1,800 settler attacks last year that resulted in casualties or property damage — an average of five incidents per day, the highest rate since monitoring began in 2006.
‘Open-Fire Policy’ and Use of Lethal Force
Israeli forces routinely use live ammunition, tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets during raids, protests, and military operations across the occupied territory. These actions are frequently justified by claims that stones were thrown.
However, Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem has long accused the military of operating under an “open-fire policy” that permits the unjustified use of lethal force.
“This policy conveys Israel’s deep disregard for the lives of Palestinians,” the group has said, noting that soldiers are rarely held accountable for killings.
Children ‘Increasingly Targets’, Rights Groups Say
Rights advocates say Palestinian children are facing heightened risks under the shadow of Israel’s war on Gaza and the broader escalation in the West Bank.
Last month, Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P) condemned what it described as systemic impunity after Israeli forces killed a 16-year-old Palestinian boy in the northern West Bank.
“Decades of impunity have created a situation where Israeli forces shoot to kill without limit,” DCI-P said.
“As Palestinian children are increasingly targets in the West Bank, Israeli forces’ rules of engagement seemingly allow direct targeting of children where no threat exists to justify the use of intentional lethal force.”
Wider Context: Gaza War and Annexation Push
The surge in West Bank violence has unfolded alongside Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Experts say the escalation in the West Bank coincides with efforts by far-right Israeli politicians to formally annex the territory, using military pressure and settler expansion to force Palestinians off their land.
Observers warn that continued violence, especially against children, risks further destabilising the region and deepening long-standing cycles of trauma and displacement.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Victim: Mohammed Naasan, 14
- Location: al-Mughayyir village, near Ramallah
- Cause of death: Shot by Israeli troops
- 2025 West Bank deaths: 240 Palestinians, including 55 children
- Settler attacks in 2025: Over 1,800 incidents
- Rights groups’ warning: Palestinian children increasingly targeted
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