IDF says 2 West Bank Palestinians killed while attacking troops; video raises questions
No soldiers hurt in separate incidents near Jenin; footage of 16-year-old shot after supposedly hurling brick at soldiers appears to contradict army’s claim
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday evening that troops had killed two Palestinians who attacked forces in separate incidents in the northern West Bank.
According to Palestinian health officials, one of the Palestinians was a teenager, and footage published by Palestinian media of that incident appeared to contradict the army’s version.
In the first incident, the army said a Palestinian hurled a brick at soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade’s reconnaissance unit during a raid in Qabatiya, south of Jenin. The troops returned fire, “eliminating the terrorist,” the IDF said.
Minutes later, other forces from the Paratroopers’ reconnaissance unit operating in Silat al-Harithiya, north of Jenin, opened fire on a Palestinian who hurled an explosive device at them, the army said.
The suspect was killed, according to the army.
In both incidents, no soldiers were hurt, the IDF added.
The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry identified the Palestinian slain in Qabatiya as Rayan Abu Mualla, 16, and said Israel was holding his body.
الهيئة العامة للشؤون المدنية تبلغ وزارة الصحة باستشهاد الطفل ريان محمد عبد القادر أبو معلا (١٦ عاما) برصاص الاحتلال، في قباطية، وتحتجز جثمانه. pic.twitter.com/czTu0S09Zl
— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) December 20, 2025
The Palestinian killed in Silat al-Harithiya was identified by the PA health ministry as Ahmad Zayoud, 22.
عاجل | استشهاد الشاب أحمد سائد شحادة زيود، برصاص الاحتلال في بلدة سيلة الحارثية، غرب جنين. pic.twitter.com/y3T8Ajxr23
— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) December 20, 2025
Footage published by Palestinian media appeared to contradict the IDF’s claim that Abu Mualla had hurled a brick at the forces.
Video captured by a surveillance camera showed a person approaching Israeli troops, who then opened fire at him. The video, which could not be immediately verified, did not appear to show the Palestinian attacking the soldiers.
The IDF did not immediately comment on the footage.
مشهد مؤلم.. لحظة إعدام جنود الاحتلال للطفل ريان أبو معلا، في بلدة قباطية، جنوب جنين. pic.twitter.com/5vdKMIvZG1
— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) December 20, 2025
Violence in the West Bank has soared since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.
More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started, according to the PA health ministry. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.
During the same period, 63 civilians and Israeli security personnel have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another eight members of the security forces were killed in clashes during raids in Palestinian cities in the West Bank.
The same period has also seen a major surge in attacks by settler extremists on Palestinians and their property across the West Bank. The IDF has recorded more than 752 incidents of nationalistic crime and settler violence since the start of the year. The total for 2024 was 675 incidents.
The Times of Israel Community.