Israeli occupation forces (IOF) shot and killed a Palestinian child and wounded two others on Saturday in the village of Burqa, northwest of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and eyewitness accounts.

Sixteen-year-old Nidhal Shagnoubi was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers, who then reportedly withheld his body, preventing his family from giving him a proper burial. Local sources say Shagnoubi was left to bleed to death after Israeli forces blocked Palestinian ambulance crews from reaching him.

The Red Crescent confirmed that two other children suffered gunshot wounds to their arms and were treated by medics at the scene before being rushed to a nearby hospital. Residents described the assault as yet another instance of excessive force used by the Israeli military against unarmed civilians, particularly children.

This latest tragedy comes amid an intensifying Israeli crackdown across the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian communities face daily violence, home raids, and restrictions on movement. Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned Israel’s use of lethal force against minors and its systemic obstruction of medical aid in conflict zones.

Eyewitnesses in Burqa said the attack occurred during a period of heightened military presence in the area, with Israeli troops storming the village and opening fire without provocation.

The killing of Nidhal Shagnoubi adds to the growing toll of Palestinian children who have lost their lives under occupation, drawing renewed calls for international accountability and protection for Palestinian civilians. (ILKHA)