Palestinian Man Killed by Israeli Settler While Harvesting Olives Amid Escalating Violence in West Bank

A Palestinian individual was fatally shot by a Jewish settler in proximity to the city of Nablus in the West Bank, as confirmed by the victim’s uncle this Sunday. This incident adds to the growing list of Palestinians allegedly killed by settlers, numbering seven since the onset of Hamas’s violent incursion into Israel approximately three weeks prior.

According to Tayseer Mahmoud, his nephew Bilal Saleh was occupied in an olive grove in the village of Sawiya alongside his spouse and their four offspring when they were assaulted by a group of settlers. Saleh, apprehensive for his children’s safety, endeavored to vacate the vicinity but was shot in the chest by a settler, Mahmoud elaborated.

Mahmoud clarified that while he was not a direct eyewitness, he was within close proximity and arrived at the location within minutes subsequent to the shooting. Saleh succumbed to his injuries before medical assistance could be administered.

Yossi Dagan, a settler leader, asserted in a video uploaded to Facebook that the individual who discharged the weapon did so in self-defense. Dagan claimed that they were confronted by “dozens of rioting Hamas supporters” hurling rocks.

Additional Context on Israel-Hamas Conflict

• Live Updates: Escalation of Israeli Military Actions in Gaza; Hospital Damaged in Nearby Shelling
• Record Humanitarian Aid Shipment Arrives in Gaza Amid Rising Death Toll Exceeding 8,000; Israeli Military Operations Expand
• Telecommunications Services Partially Restored in Gaza After Disruption Amid Heavy Artillery Fire

This lethal event occurs against the backdrop of heightened settler aggression subsequent to Hamas militants’ entry into Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,400 Israeli deaths and more than 230 individuals taken hostage. The ensuing armed conflict has led to a death toll exceeding 7,700 Palestinians, as per statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry.

Furthermore, there have been accounts from Palestinians in the West Bank of increasing incidents involving attacks on individuals and property, along with restricted access to their own lands.

United States President Joe Biden has expressed condemnation of the intensifying violence. He pointedly stated that attacks carried out by extremist settlers are tantamount to “exacerbating” an already volatile situation in the Middle East, which has been aggravated by the Hamas incursion.

The Israeli military disclosed that it is in receipt of a report detailing a “violent altercation” between Palestinians and Israeli civilians, resulting in a reported Palestinian fatality. An investigation has been initiated by the police.

This year has been marked as the most fatal for the West Bank since the second Palestinian insurrection against Israel two decades ago.

Within the time frame of the current conflict alone, in excess of 100 Palestinians, encompassing civilians, have lost their lives, primarily in the context of military detentions and violent demonstrations in the West Bank.

The French government issued a statement on Sunday decrying the spate of violent acts by settlers and called on Israeli authorities to safeguard Palestinian civilian populations, specifically in the village of Suwiya.

“The frequency of violent deeds committed by settlers against Palestinians is unacceptable and must be halted,” the communique from the French Foreign Ministry declared.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israeli settler violence

More about Israeli settler violence

• Live Updates on Israel-Hamas Conflict
• Gaza Health Ministry Statistics
• Statement from U.S. President Joe Biden
• French Foreign Ministry’s Official Statement
• West Bank Historical Background
• Information on Settler Violence in the West Bank