A 14-year-old Palestinian-American boy was fatally shot by Israeli troops Sunday night in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian authorities, in an incident that also left two other teens wounded.
The shooting took place in the village of Turmusaya, north of Ramallah. Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam confirmed the teen’s death, while the village’s mayor, Lafi Shalabi, said the two other boys, aged 14 and 15, were also Palestinian-Americans.
The Israeli military said its soldiers responded to a group allegedly throwing stones at passing vehicles, claiming the actions posed a threat to civilians. In a brief statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops “identified three suspects hurling rocks toward the highway and opened fire, hitting all three.” One of the boys died at the scene, while the other two sustained gunshot wounds.
A grainy video released by the military shows three individuals in the distance, with one appearing to throw something moments before gunfire is heard. The IDF said it would continue its operations in the West Bank to “protect residents in the area.”
According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the two injured teens were shot in the abdomen. Both were taken to a hospital in Ramallah, with one in serious condition and the other suffering less severe injuries, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.
The teen who was killed had grown up in New Jersey, according to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who expressed condolences to the boy’s family. The incident occurred just ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the U.S. for a meeting with President Donald Trump.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed the teen’s death and said the incident occurred “during a counterterrorism operation.” The department said it was in contact with Israeli authorities, who are investigating the shooting. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added that the U.S. needs more clarity on the events that took place.
This case is the latest in a series of deaths involving Palestinian-Americans in the occupied territories, raising long-standing concerns over the treatment of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces and a lack of accountability in such cases.
Past incidents include the 2003 death of Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American peace activist crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer in Gaza, and the 2022 killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American shot while reporting in the West Bank despite wearing a press vest. A CNN investigation concluded she was likely targeted by Israeli forces, though Israel has refused to cooperate with a U.S. inquiry into her death.
More recently, in February of last year, 17-year-old Mohammed Khdour—an American from Florida—was shot in the head while sitting in his car. Weeks earlier, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, another 17-year-old Palestinian-American, was killed in a separate shooting allegedly involving an off-duty Israeli police officer and a civilian.
Israeli military actions in the West Bank have escalated significantly since late January, following a ceasefire in Gaza. Human rights groups and Palestinian officials say the operations increasingly affect civilians, leading to widespread displacement and damage to infrastructure. According to recent figures, around 40,000 Palestinians have been forced from their homes as a result of these operations.
While Israel claims its focus is on neutralizing militant threats, critics argue the campaign reflects a pattern of excessive force and collective punishment, particularly in densely populated civilian areas. In a notable escalation, Israel deployed tanks to the West Bank earlier this year—the first such deployment in two decades.
