RAMALLAH (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Two young Palestinians were killed on Wednesday evening by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers during a raid on the village of al-Mughayyir, north of Ramallah, amid an Israeli military escalation and attacks targeting Palestinian homes.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society said its crews treated one Palestinian who was shot with live ammunition in the neck and another who was shot in the back during the attack by Israeli settlers and Israeli forces on the village. Both were taken to a hospital.
Amin Abu Alia, head of the al-Mughayyir Village Council, identified the two Palestinians killed as Omar Mohammad Naasan and Khalil Abu Alia, both 19, saying they died from their critical injuries.
Abu Alia said Israeli settlers, accompanied by IOF troops, stormed the center of the village near the Grand Mosque and attacked two homes before stealing sheep from them.
He added that Israeli military snipers positioned themselves on buildings in the center of the village and opened live fire on residents who attempted to confront the settlers as they stole the sheep.
The gunfire critically wounded the two young men, who were pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital, Abu Alia said.
Earlier, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that its crews had treated two young Palestinians wounded by live ammunition. One, aged 19, was shot in the neck, while the other was shot in the back.
Violent confrontations erupted with IOF, which prevented young Palestinians from reaching a home where settlers had stolen a flock of sheep.
Israeli forces deployed heavily throughout the area, closed the entrances to the village and prevented Palestinians from entering or leaving.
Israeli forces also fired large quantities of tear gas toward Palestinian homes, causing residents to suffer breathing difficulties. Medical crews were also prevented from reaching the wounded and affected homes.
Hamas mourns the victims
Commenting on the Israeli crime, the Hamas Movement called on Palestinians across the occupied West Bank to strengthen unity, confront attacks by Israeli occupation forces and settlers, and protect Palestinian land, villages and property.
The Movement also called for efforts to thwart Israeli plans for displacement, settlement expansion and annexation in defense of Palestinian land and national rights.
Hamas said the escalating attacks by armed Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with the protection and support of the Israeli occupation army, are part of a systematic policy targeting Palestinians and their land.
The Movement said these policies seek to advance plans for annexation, forced displacement and ethnic cleansing, calling for serious and effective action at all levels to stop Israeli crimes and hold those responsible accountable.
Hamas mourned the two killed young men and said the blood of Palestinians killed and the sacrifices made by Palestinians confronting attacks by IOF and settlers “will not be in vain.”
The Movement added that escalating Israeli attacks would not succeed in breaking the will of the Palestinian people or uprooting them from their land, but would instead strengthen their commitment to their rights and determination to confront Israeli settlement and displacement plans.
More than 2,000 Israeli attacks documented in August
In a related development, the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 2,030 attacks by IOF and settlers against Palestinians, their land and property across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem during August.
The commission recorded 628 settler attacks, which resulted in the killing of a Palestinian teenager and injuries or direct harm to 164 Palestinians.
Settlers also vandalized or uprooted 21,508 trees, including 19,375 olive trees, according to the commission.
