Four Palestinians and two Israelis killed in West Bank shooting

Four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed in a shooting near the northern West Bank village of Tal, marking the deadliest such incident in the region in months. According to multiple reports, the violence erupted early on Tuesday, involving Palestinian residents confronting Jewish settlers, followed by the arrival of Israeli soldiers who reportedly opened fire. The Israeli military confirmed that its forces were responding to an attack on hikers, claiming that a security guard’s weapon had been stolen and used against Israelis, resulting in his death. A soldier was also killed, though the circumstances remain unclear. Two Israelis were injured, according to the Israeli ambulance service. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene in Tal, where about 30 settlers were allegedly attacking Palestinian homes. Local residents reportedly intervened, leading to a physical confrontation. Israeli soldiers arrived and engaged in gunfire, with conflicting accounts regarding whose side they supported. Ahmed Zeidan, an eyewitness, told the BBC that the settlers were initially responsible for opening fire, and Israeli forces joined in without clear provocation. A local Fatah leader, Essam Saifi, stated that settlers fired first before Israeli troops arrived and continued shooting, killing two brothers and two cousins. Several others were wounded. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as a “massacre,” accusing the Israeli government of enabling settler violence through political support and impunity. The Israeli military claimed that Palestinians initiated the attack, asserting that soldiers went to Tal after receiving reports of an assault on Israeli civilians hiking in the area. The hike, however, was not coordinated with the military. According to the IDF, a security guard from a nearby settler outpost had his weapon taken by a Palestinian, who then used it to kill the guard. The military stated that soldiers “eliminated the terrorist who executed the terror attack.” However, the identity of the perpetrator remains unconfirmed. The IDF has not clarified who killed the remaining Palestinians, despite acknowledging that the attack occurred within the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Two video clips, circulated by local media, depict the events in question. One shows a confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, with armed Israelis in civilian clothing firing into the crowd while a group of Israeli civilians, including children, watches and jeers. In another clip, the perspective shifts, revealing a struggle over weapons, with one individual managing to seize a firearm. Gunfire erupts, and soldiers respond. These videos, although widely shared, have not been independently verified. The IDF has not commented directly on the footage, focusing instead on its official narrative of the incident. In response to the violence, the Israeli military announced it is preparing for a major operation in the area, canceling soldiers’ leave as part of heightened security measures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to take “full force” against those responsible for the attack and those who support or finance such actions. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Israeli government of fostering an environment where settler violence thrives due to lack of accountability. Roadblocks have been established in the vicinity, and Israeli troops are conducting searches for additional suspects. The IDF later revealed that it raided a hospital in Nablus and detained two individuals suspected of participating in the shooting. The situation remains volatile, with tensions likely to escalate further in the coming days.