Israeli Soldiers Critically Injure Palestinian Toddler, Father in West Bank Shooting

Local activist Bilal Tamimi reported to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA that Israeli forces ambushed a vehicle at the entrance to Nabi Saleh village on Thursday night. Upon the vehicle's approach, the soldiers opened fire, resulting in a gunshot to the head of the two-year-old boy and a shoulder injury to his father.

The incident occurred in the front yard of the victims' home, located next to an Israeli army checkpoint at the entrance to the village. Both were swiftly transported to a hospital in the nearby illegal settlement of Neve Tsof. The toddler was later transferred to a hospital in the 1948-occupied territories for medical treatment, while the father was moved to a hospital in Ramallah.

In response, the Israeli army, as reported by Haaretz newspaper, claimed that Palestinian fighters had initiated the gunfire at the settlement. Israeli soldiers stationed at a nearby post then returned fire, resulting in the injury of the two Palestinians.

Following the shooting, protests erupted at the entrance of Nabi Saleh. Israeli soldiers closed the iron gate at the village entrance and proceeded to invade several neighborhoods, firing live rounds at protesters.

Two young Palestinian men were injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, including a local activist who was documenting the invasion with his mobile phone.

This incident occurred just two days after Israeli regime forces raided a refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus, leaving more than 40 Palestinians injured. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that 46 Palestinians were treated for wounds during the predawn raid on Tuesday.

The occupied West Bank has experienced heightened tensions over the past year, with the Israeli military conducting violent raids under the pretext of apprehending "wanted" Palestinians. In 2023 alone, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 112 Palestinians, with many others being arrested.