West Bank: Radical settlers accused of shooting Palestinian student

A 20-year-old Palestinian student was killed after radical Israeli settlers allegedly opened fire on residents of a village in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. Two other people were wounded in the incident in Hajja, near the Palestinian city of Qalqilya, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

Residents said the settlers arrived on Sunday evening and began shooting. The student was hit in the head and later died of his injuries. Another Palestinian was reported to be in critical condition. An Israeli army spokesman said the military was examining the reports.

Violence has been rising for months in the West Bank. Radical Israeli settlers repeatedly attack Palestinian residents, while clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers have also increased. The Israeli military has repeatedly faced accusations that it is not acting firmly enough against attacks on Palestinians, or that it is cooperating with settlers.

More than 80 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank this year, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. About a quarter were reportedly killed by settlers. The latest incidents have drawn growing international criticism, including from the United States, whose government under President Donald Trump is described in the article as friendly toward settlers.

Reuters and AFP reported that Netanyahu had ordered the removal of unauthorized settler outposts in the West Bank. There has been no official confirmation. Netanyahu recently issued unusually strong criticism of radical settlers who occupied Palestinian homes in the West Bank village of Qusra. The United Nations and most countries consider all Israeli settlements illegal and regard the West Bank as occupied territory under military control. Israel rejects that characterization, but the supplied article ends before explaining its position in full.