A 19-year-old Palestinian was killed in the town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank during a clash with Israeli settlers. The violence erupted after an Israeli family was fired upon in their car. There are conflicting accounts as to whether the victim was shot by an Israeli settler or by soldiers. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, a group of settlers entered the town and caused damage to homes and property. One of the settlers shot the 19-year-old, who later died in the hospital. On the other hand, the Israeli military stated that both settlers and townspeople engaged in rock-throwing, and a Palestinian threw a brick at soldiers, prompting them to fire in return. The military confirmed that a person was hit by their gunfire but did not disclose the individual’s identity. The military spokesperson denied knowledge of a settler firing a weapon during the confrontations. The previous day, a suspected Palestinian gunman targeted an Israeli vehicle in Huwara, but the Israeli family inside was unharmed. Israeli security forces later killed the gunman. Prior to this incident, separate clashes had resulted in injuries to two Palestinian gunmen and five Israeli soldiers. The surge in violence in the West Bank is occurring amidst a long-standing impasse in U.S.-sponsored peacemaking efforts. Huwara has witnessed multiple shooting attacks on Israelis, followed by retaliatory assaults by settlers on the village.

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