Israeli settlers kill Palestinian in West Bank, officials say - Reuters

Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian man and wounded another during a raid on the village of Yasuf, north of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. The victim identified by local officials was Mashhour Yassin, 51, who was shot while at his home on the outskirts of the village. A second Palestinian was also injured in the attack.

Village council head Jumaa Abdel Fattah said the assailants approached from the direction of a settler outpost that was established near Yasuf about two months ago. He added that the settlement had been the focus of continuous attacks on the village since its creation. The Israeli military announced that it was reviewing the incident, but no further details have been released.

Palestinian officials confirmed that the two Palestinians shot were the only individuals targeted in the raid. The injured man was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment, while Yassin’s body was later transferred to a local morgue. No Israeli casualties were reported.

The incident adds to a surge of violence in the West Bank, where United Nations figures indicate that more than 80 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers since the start of 2026. Human‑rights organizations have warned that the expansion of settler outposts and increased presence on the periphery of Palestinian villages are part of a broader strategy to seize land and limit the territory envisioned for a future Palestinian state.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 war and has maintained a military occupation ever since. The international community, including the United Nations, generally regards Israeli settlements in the occupied territories as illegal under the law governing military occupations, a position Israel disputes.

The latest killing follows a series of incidents in which settlers have used firearms against Palestinians in the area, raising concerns among observers about escalating tensions and the potential for further clashes between settlers and residents of the West Bank.