The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that two Palestinian brothers were killed by Israeli settler gunfire in the occupied West Bank on Monday, as violence by settlers surges and Israel intensifies its military presence amid regional conflict.
Victims Identified as Mohammad and Faheem Mo’mar
In an official statement, the health ministry identified the victims as Mohammad Mo’mar, aged 52, and Faheem Mo’mar, aged 48. Mohammad was shot in the head, while Faheem was hit in the pelvis. The fatal shootings occurred in their village of Qaryout, located in the northern West Bank.
Escalating Settler Violence in the Region
These killings bring the total number of Palestinians killed by settler violence this year to three. This incident follows the February 19 shooting death of 19-year-old Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a Palestinian American man, by Israeli settlers.
Videos circulated by Palestinian media and the whistleblower group Breaking the Silence, which consists of former Israeli soldiers, show a group of approximately 10 settlers standing near a Palestinian home in Qaryout. In one video, a settler is seen aiming a rifle directly at the top floor of the home. Another video depicts Palestinians rushing to carry a bleeding man by his limbs toward medical assistance.
Injuries and Aftermath of the Attack
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least three other individuals were injured in the shooting. The wounded were transported to a hospital in Nablus, a central West Bank city, where Associated Press footage captured men grieving over the body of one of the brothers.
Villagers assisted doctors in placing bloodied bodies onto operating tables and covering the dead and injured with blankets. The Israeli military has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.
Eyewitness Account of the Attack
Adham Johary, a resident of Qaryout, told the Associated Press that a settler was observed using a bulldozer on the edge of town and fled upon seeing young Palestinian men approaching. “Less than 10 minutes later, more than 10 settlers attacked nearby houses. The young residents attempted to defend the area, and random gunfire was directed at the young men and the entire area,” he explained.
Accountability and Movement Restrictions
Palestinians and human rights organizations assert that Israeli authorities frequently fail to prosecute settlers or hold them accountable for acts of violence. The United Nations humanitarian office reported that last year saw the highest daily average of settler attacks resulting in death, injury, or property damage—five incidents per day—since record-keeping began in 2006.
Meanwhile, COGAT, the military body responsible for administering the territory, has closed crossings in the West Bank and Gaza for security reasons. Palestinians in the West Bank report that these movement restrictions have hindered access to essential services, isolating some villages from urban areas with hospitals and shops.
