Israeli forces kill 14-year-old Palestinian boy in occupied West Bank

A 14-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli forces during a military operation in the West Bank village of Burqa on Monday evening. The victim was identified by the Palestinian Ministry of Health as Moataz Iyad Daghlas, and reports indicate that Israeli authorities are currently withholding his body.

During the raid, two other individuals were wounded, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. A 17-year-old sustained gunshot injuries to the pelvis and abdomen, while a 19-year-old was struck in the hand. The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that its teams treated two of the injured, but alleged that Israeli troops blocked access to a third wounded person and briefly detained three of their volunteer paramedics.

The Israeli military confirmed the incident near the city of Nablus, stating that soldiers opened fire after identifying individuals preparing to throw stones at Israeli vehicles. The military statement noted that troops fired to "neutralise the threat" in an area where such attacks on traffic have previously occurred, adding that "several hits were confirmed."

According to the United Nations, at least 1,143 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since 7 October 2023, a figure that includes 250 children. The UN Human Rights Office has previously stated that in many instances where teenagers were killed for alleged stone-throwing, the individuals did not pose an imminent threat to life, which serves as the primary legal justification for the use of lethal force under international law.