Palestinian teen shot dead after unauthorized settler ‘hike’ near village sparks clashes
17-year-old killed after settlement security coordinator opens fire on Palestinians hurling stones; footage shows building at scene on fire after it was allegedly torched by settlers
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
The coordinator of a settlement security squad shot dead a Palestinian teenager on Friday after a group of settlers illegally entered an area on the outskirts of a Palestinian village in the southern West Bank, sparking clashes with locals.
It was the latest incident in recent weeks of settlers entering Area B of the West Bank on what was dubbed as a “hike” by the IDF and a “raid” by Palestinian media. It is not illegal for Israelis to enter Area B — which is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control — but Israeli authorities discourage it without prior coordination.
Last month, settlers conducted a similar “hike” through the northern West Bank Palestinian village of Tel, sparking clashes that resulted in the deaths of two Israelis and four Palestinians.
Friday’s incident took place outside the village of Sa’ir.
Footage showed a building on fire after Palestinians said it was torched by settlers trespassing through the area.
The settlers embarked from the nearby ultra-Orthodox settlement of Metzad, on what the army acknowledged was an unauthorized excursion.
פשיטת מתנחלים סמוך לסעיר, צפונית לחברון, היום
שימוש: לפי סעיף 27א' לחוק זכויות יוצרים pic.twitter.com/uc9JIOjOBJ
— הארץ חדשות (@haaretznewsvid) August 21, 2026
Palestinians began hurling stones at the trespassing settlers, the IDF said, adding that Metzad’s civilian security coordinator was called to the scene.
The coordinator opened fire on the Palestinians, striking at least two of them — 17-year-old Karim Shalaldeh, who later died of his wounds, and a 70-year-old who was seriously injured, according to the Palestinian Authority health ministry.
#عاجل| مراسل الجزيرة: إصابة ثانية برصاص مستوطنين في خربة حمروش ببلدة سعير شمال الخليل بالضفة الغربية pic.twitter.com/stAiWOrBnP
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) August 21, 2026
The Israel Police said it launched an investigation into the incident, including into whether the building on fire had indeed been torched by settlers. The military says that the troops “dispersed the confrontation” and escorted all of the Israelis out of the Palestinian village.
“The IDF clarifies that unauthorized excursions endanger those who take part in them, and divert forces from defense and counterterrorism operations in the area,” the army said.
إصابات بهجوم للمستوطنين وإضرام النيران بمنزل في منطقة حمروش ببلدة سعير شمالي الخليل pic.twitter.com/gTqLP04ARL
— التلفزيون العربي (@AlarabyTV) August 21, 2026
Police ban party left-wing activists, but not settlers, from Palestinian town
In a related West Bank incident on Friday, Israel Police barred activists from the left-wing Democrats party from reaching a Palestinian village in the West Bank that has come under repeated attack by settlers.
Officers used a closed military zone order to bar the activists from performing what is called “protective presence” in defense of Palestinians.
But while the Democrat activists were kicked out of the southern West Bank village of al-Maniya, settlers were allowed to continue roaming the area, according to Gilad Kariv, an MK in the left-wing party.
Palestinian locals have suffered harassment from settlers in a nearby outpost established a year ago. The IDF declared the area a closed military zone in November, but the settlers have not subsequently been evacuated, Kariv laments in an X post.
פעם אחר פעם, הצבא משתמש בצווי שטח צבאי סגור כדי לפנות פעילי נוכחות מגינה, ולהעניק חסינות למתנחלים אלימים.
הבוקר הגיעה קבוצה של פעילי הדמוקרטים הצעירים ובני אברהם לסייע לתושבי הכפר אל מיניה. לפני שנה הוקם בסמוך לכפר מאחז בלתי חוקי ומאז הם סובלים ממסכת התנכלויות.
בנובמבר הצבא… pic.twitter.com/HMAGEC37bR
— גלעד קריב (@KarivGilad) August 21, 2026
“Closed military zone orders have become, in recent months, an inappropriate tool for masking deeds that should not be done to Palestinians, for obstructing Israeli citizens from speaking out and standing against injustices, and for putting wind at the backs of the hilltop gangs,” Kariv wrote.
In addition to the Democrat activists, 15 residents of al-Maniya were also forced to leave the area by police, he added, calling on authorities to let them return to their homes.
There was no immediate police response to the incident.
IDF warning West Bank on brink of escalation due to settler violence — report
Also on Friday, Channel 12 reported that IDF brass is warning the country’s political leadership that the West Bank is on the brink of a violent escalation, as settler attacks and illegal outposts continue to spread across the territory.
The report said rank-and-file Palestinians may begin to take action if of settler violence is allowed to continue unabated. In recent months, the West Bank has seen daily settler harassment and attacks on Palestinians and their property. Arrests in such incidents are rare, and prosecution is rarer still.
While the government is often accused of ignoring or even supporting such violence, soldiers are also filmed regularly not acting to stop it.
The Channel 12 report quoted an unnamed senior military official suggesting more forceful action on the part of Israel is needed to stem the violence, and lamenting that some government officials support the extremist settlers.
“There’s a group here that wants chaos,” the official reportedly says. “Support from part of the local leadership and parts of the government make enforcement difficult. It’s unclear whether there’s anyone who wants enforcement. Commanders on the ground feel alone in the campaign.”
The Times of Israel Community.