Israeli Forces Kill Boy in West Bank

Palestinian officials have reported that Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian boy during clashes with stone throwers in the occupied West Bank on Friday. The Israeli Border Police stated that during the conflict in the village of Umm Safa, near Ramallah, "suspected masked individuals threw stones, endangering the lives of soldiers." The police added that a Border Police officer responded by opening fire and "an injury was reported." The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the boy as Muhammad Fuad Ata Al-Bayd (17 years old), a resident of Umm Safa. Fatah Movement claimed that "Al-Bayd belonged to them," adding that he "was killed by Israeli army fire while confronting settler assaults in the village of Umm Safa, north of Ramallah." The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Al-Bayd's killing, stating it is part of "violations and crimes by Israeli forces." Protests are organized every week in Umm Safa against the establishment of Israeli settlements, often escalating into clashes with Israeli forces. Over the past fifteen months, violence in the West Bank has intensified, an area Palestinians seek to establish their state, with increased Israeli raids and Palestinian attacks in Israeli cities, as well as assaults by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages.