Four Family Members Killed in West Bank Shooting by Israeli Forces

Israeli military forces shot and killed four Palestinian family members, including two children, during what they described as pursuit of suspected terrorists. The Odeh family had been shopping for holiday clothes when the fatal shooting occurred in the northern West Bank.

TAMMUN, West Bank (AP) — Four members of a Palestinian family, including two young children, were fatally shot by Israeli military forces in the northern West Bank, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry.

Palestinian officials report the Odeh family was out purchasing new clothing for Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which mark the conclusion of Ramadan, when the deadly shooting took place Saturday evening. Israeli authorities have announced they are conducting an investigation into the incident.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service, Ali and Waed Odeh along with two of their four children sustained fatal head wounds from gunfire. The couple’s two remaining children suffered shrapnel injuries and received medical attention from emergency responders after they were eventually allowed access to the scene. The Red Crescent has criticized Israeli forces for preventing ambulances from reaching the location promptly.

In a joint statement released Sunday, Israeli military and police officials said their forces discharged weapons when a vehicle sped toward them in Tammun. The forces were reportedly tracking individuals suspected of involvement in “terrorist activity,” and the incident remains under official review.

The Odeh family represents the most recent victims in the occupied West Bank, where at least eight Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and military personnel since the Iran conflict began.

Following the February 28 attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States, Israeli officials have imposed movement restrictions throughout the West Bank, periodically shutting down hundreds of checkpoints and gates along roads used by local residents, emergency vehicles, and commercial transport. These barriers have severely limited mobility and complicated emergency response efforts, the Red Crescent informed The Associated Press recently.

Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din reported Wednesday that they have documented 109 cases of settler violence across dozens of Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank since the war’s beginning.

Current casualty figures remain below 2025 levels — which marked a record year for violence that started with Israel’s invasion of northern West Bank cities identified by the military as militant bases. Israeli forces continue to maintain operations in those areas.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has documented 18 Palestinian deaths in the occupied West Bank since early 2026, with eight killed by Israeli settlers.