ABU FALAH, West Bank — Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank claimed three more Palestinian lives on Sunday, pushing the death count from recent clashes to six as global attention remains fixed on Israel’s wider regional conflict with Iran.
Israeli military officials reported they intervened after receiving word that Israeli settlers were attacking Palestinians close to Khirbet Abu Falah, located east of Ramallah. Two Palestinians died from bullet wounds while a third succumbed to asphyxiation, presumably from tear gas exposure, according to military statements.
The fatalities included cousins Fare’ Hamayel and Thaer Hamayel, along with Mohammad Murra. The community held a combined burial service for all three men.
Amin Shouman, an Abu Falah local who saw the incident unfold, spoke with The Associated Press about what happened. “Dozens of Israeli settlers approached the village from the north and opened fire when they were confronted by a guard committee along the border of the village,” Shouman said.
These latest casualties follow other fatal encounters from the previous week. An Israeli reservist killed one Palestinian in the south Hebron Hills on Saturday, while settlers were responsible for the deaths of two Palestinian brothers in the northern West Bank on Monday.
In an unusual move, Israeli military leadership issued harsh criticism of the settler actions and launched a criminal probe into those responsible.
“This is an unacceptable incident. There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands,” stated Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, who leads the military’s Central Command overseeing West Bank operations. “Especially at a time when the IDF is striking our bitter enemies, Iran and Hezbollah, with a firm hand — we cannot allow reckless internal violence to undermine the rule of law and the security of the region.”
Palestinian officials and human rights organizations maintain that Israeli leadership consistently fails to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for violent acts.
The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry issued a Saturday statement charging Israel with “exploiting the atmosphere of war” and reduced global focus on West Bank matters to escalate harassment, violence and forced relocation efforts.
Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din documented over 50 cases of settler attacks against Palestinians during just the initial four days of the Iran conflict, which began February 28.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reports that checkpoint shutdowns and gate restrictions implemented due to the war are creating significant barriers for emergency responders throughout the West Bank, particularly during settler violence incidents.
Though authorities have not imposed a complete lockdown like those following the October 7, 2023 attack and last year’s Iran war, Israel has installed hundreds of additional gates throughout the territory, restricting movement between Palestinian communities and severely complicating emergency response efforts. Current gate numbers have reached approximately 1,100, compared to roughly 800 during last year’s conflict, the Red Crescent noted.
Medical professionals and emergency personnel report that movement limitations severely impact their response times, especially after violent settler attacks. Many communities most at risk from such violence are located in West Bank areas under complete Israeli military and civilian authority, situated far from urban medical facilities and reliant on roadways that can be blocked without advance warning.
