RAMALLAH – A 14-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Omar Mohammad Rabea, was fatally shot by Israeli forces in the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya, Palestinian officials confirmed on Sunday. The Israeli military claimed the teen was among three individuals labeled as “terrorists” who were allegedly throwing rocks at passing vehicles, endangering civilians.
Local authorities reported that Rabea was shot near the village entrance by an Israeli settler and later pronounced dead by Israeli forces after being detained. Two other teenagers were also injured in the incident.
Palestinian officials condemned the shooting as an “extra-judicial killing,” calling it part of a broader pattern of violence enabled by what they described as Israeli impunity. The foreign ministry criticized the continued military operations in Palestinian areas.
In response, the Israeli Defense Forces stated that their soldiers engaged the individuals during a counterterrorism operation, citing threats posed to highway drivers.
The incident adds to rising tensions in the occupied West Bank, where clashes between settlers, Israeli troops, and Palestinians have surged since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023.
International reactions have varied. While the Biden administration previously imposed sanctions on violent settlers, these measures were lifted under President Donald Trump’s leadership.