Two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead in al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank after settlers entered the village under police and military escort, according to residents and Israeli activists. Israeli troops separately demolished the homes and other structures of 12 Palestinian families in Khirbet al-Taban, outside Hebron, leaving all 70 residents homeless, according to the Israeli-Palestinian rights group B’Tselem.
What happened in al-Mughayyir
Residents and Israeli activists said the shootings followed the entry of settlers who sought to take dozens of sheep from a Palestinian home. They said snipers positioned themselves on rooftops and Khalil Abu Alia was shot in the neck while standing at his home’s doorstep. Omar al-Nassan was shot twice, including once in the back. Both died before reaching hospital.
An Israeli military spokesperson said police, soldiers and settlers entered to recover sheep claimed by settlers from a Palestinian home. The spokesperson said Palestinians threw stones and cinder blocks and that forces fired at key instigators to remove a threat, adding that hits were identified. The spokesperson said a soldier killed Abu Alia; it was not clear whether al-Nassan was shot by a soldier or a settler. For additional context, see “What makes Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank a pogrom?”.
Key points
- Khalil Abu Alia was 16 and was preparing to start 11th grade at al-Mughayyir boys school.
- Omar al-Nassan was 19 and had graduated from the school with top marks that summer.
- B’Tselem said the Khirbet al-Taban demolition destroyed homes, water cisterns, storage areas, livestock pens and caves.
- The group said 28 children were among the 70 residents made homeless.
Pressure on the village school and residents
The al-Mughayyir school has 470 students. Its English teacher, Waheed Abu Naim, said Israeli soldiers and militants had killed three other students from the school this year, including a 17-year-old in June and two 14-year-olds in April and January. He said other students had also been injured and that his brother was killed by settlers in April.
The village has had all but one road blocked by Israeli barricades since late 2023. Abu Naim said soldiers and settlers began closing the remaining route for hours at a time in late August, while at least eight families left during the past week after losing access to work. School staff have raised walls and strengthened gates ahead of the new term, while teachers are preparing for possible access problems. A related part of this story is covered in “Worshippers describe fear after attacks on West Bank mosques”.
Demolitions in the south Hebron hills
B’Tselem said the Khirbet al-Taban operation removed every building in the community and destroyed infrastructure used for water, storage and livestock. Cogat, the Israeli military agency responsible for civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, said troops were conducting enforcement activity against illegal construction in a military training zone.
Khirbet al-Taban is in the Masafer Yatta area, which Israel designated as Firing Zone 918 in 1981. B’Tselem said Palestinian residents have challenged expulsions in Israeli courts for decades, while 11 Israeli settler outposts remain inside the firing zone. The development of this issue can be followed in “Fire near Ein Siniya factory adds to West Bank economic attacks”.
What happens next
The al-Mughayyir school is due to begin its new semester in three days, and staff are preparing contingency plans if teachers cannot reach the village.
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