Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians during a settler attack on a village in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday evening, according to Palestinian officials. Omar Muhammad Na'san, 19, and Khalil Rasem Shahada, 16, died in Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. Marzouq Abu Na'im, a village council member, said armed settlers attacked a house to steal livestock and Israeli soldiers then provided protection for the settlers.
Na'san went outside to see what was happening and was shot by an Israeli sniper positioned on a house roof, Abu Na'im told Middle East Eye. Shahada emerged from his house across the street after hearing residents scream and was also shot by soldiers within metres of his door, Abu Na'im said. An ambulance was prevented from reaching them, and both died before they could be transported to hospital.
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, a Palestinian organization, documented 2,030 attacks during August—1,402 by soldiers and 628 by settlers. The attacks damaged 21,508 trees and resulted in 164 Palestinians being directly affected, including 20 children and 17 women, the commission said. Settlers attempted to establish 32 new settlement outposts during August alone.
The United Nations humanitarian affairs office documented 15 Palestinians, including two children, killed by settlers as of July 24, 2026, putting the year on track to exceed the 16 killings recorded in 2023. The UN deputy special coordinator for the Middle East said in August that settler violence had reached "unprecedented levels" and the territory had "reached a breaking point." The UN documented more than 1,430 incidents of settler violence since the beginning of the year, affecting some 260 Palestinian communities.
Human Rights Watch reported on August 20 that settler attacks have driven complete or partial displacement in 107 Palestinian towns and villages since January 2023, with 2026 tracking as a record year. The organization accused Israeli authorities of failing to protect Palestinians and of providing financial, material, and legal support to settlers responsible for attacks. The UN noted that approximately 3,800 Palestinians had been displaced since the beginning of 2026 as a result of settler violence, demolitions, and evictions.
The European Union issued a statement on August 21 demanding an end to settler intimidation and harassment in the village of Qusra, where Palestinian families had been trapped in their homes for over a week. The EU called on Israel to take decisive action and hold those responsible accountable. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the settlers besieging the Palestinian families as terrorists.
