Israeli sniper fire kills Palestinian man, 16-year-old boy in occupied West Bank

A Palestinian man and a 16-year-old boy were killed late Wednesday by Israeli army sniper fire as residents confronted Israeli occupiers stealing sheep in Al-Mughayyir village, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victims as Omar Mohammed Naassan, 19, and Khalil Abu Alia, 16, saying both were killed by Israeli gunfire. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its crews treated two Palestinians who were shot with live fire, one in the neck and the other in the back, during an attack by Israeli forces and occupiers on the village. Both were taken to hospital. Amin Abu Alia, head of Al-Mughayyir village council, told the official Palestinian news agency Wafa that the two were killed during an attack by Israeli occupiers accompanied by Israeli forces. Abu Alia said Israeli forces and occupiers entered the center of the village near the Grand Mosque, attacked two homes belonging to Saleh Suleiman and Shehadeh Kaabneh, and stole sheep. Israeli military snipers took positions on buildings in the center of the village, he said. When residents attempted to confront the occupiers as they stole the sheep, the snipers opened live fire, critically wounding the two Palestinians, who later died while being transported to hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the report. The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission said the deaths brought the number of Palestinians killed in incidents linked to attacks by Israeli occupiers since the beginning of 2026 to 27. It said 63 Palestinians have been killed in attacks by Israeli occupiers since Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli forces raided the village late Wednesday and closed its main entrance, amid clashes and attacks on Palestinians. Al-Mughayyir has faced repeated attacks by occupiers, accompanied by Israeli forces. Since Israel launched its genocide on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8, 2023, its army and occupiers have intensified attacks across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. These attacks include killings, arrests, forced displacement, home demolitions and illegal settlement expansion.