Two Palestinian Brothers Killed in West Bank Settler Attack

Mohammad and Faheem Mo'mar, two Palestinian brothers, died Monday after Israeli settlers opened fire in their West Bank village. The deadly shooting occurred amid escalating settler violence in the region, with three Palestinians killed by settlers this year.

Two Palestinian brothers died Monday after Israeli settlers opened fire in their village in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as violent incidents by settlers continue to increase throughout the territory during ongoing regional conflicts.

The Palestinian Health Ministry named the victims as Mohammad and Faheem Mo’mar in an official statement. Mohammad, age 52, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head while Faheem, 48, was struck in the pelvis. Both men died in Qaryout, their home village located in the northern West Bank.

This deadly incident raises the total number of Palestinians killed in settler attacks this year to three, following the February 19 shooting death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian American.

Video footage distributed by Palestinian news outlets and Breaking the Silence, an organization of former Israeli military personnel, captured approximately 10 settlers positioned near a Palestinian residence in Qaryout. The footage shows one settler aiming a rifle at the home’s upper level. Additional video shows Palestinians hurriedly carrying an injured, bleeding man toward medical assistance.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that at least three additional people sustained injuries during the shooting.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Medical personnel transported the wounded to a hospital in Nablus, a city in the central West Bank, where Associated Press reporters observed family members mourning over one brother’s body. Village residents assisted medical staff in moving bloodied victims onto surgical tables and covering both the deceased and injured with blankets.

Adham Johary, a village resident, explained to the AP that settlers had been spotted operating a bulldozer at the town’s perimeter before fleeing when young Palestinian men approached.

“Less than 10 minutes later, more than 10 settlers attacked nearby houses. The young residents attempted to defend the area, and random gunfire was directed at the young men and the entire area,” Johary stated.

Human rights organizations and Palestinians maintain that Israeli officials consistently fail to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for violent acts. The United Nations humanitarian office documented that 2023 saw the highest daily average of settler attacks resulting in deaths, injuries or property destruction — five incidents per day — since tracking began in 2006.

COGAT, the military authority overseeing the territory, announced closures of West Bank and Gaza crossings citing security concerns. West Bank Palestinians report that travel limitations have severely restricted access to essential services, preventing some villages from reaching urban centers with medical facilities and commercial establishments.