Israeli soldiers shot dead two Palestinian teenagers in the West Bank

Israeli forces and Palestinian authorities give conflicting accounts of a deadly incident near a Jewish settlement in Beit Ummar

An Israeli soldier keeps watch during a weekly Israeli settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jun 20, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israeli soldiers have shot dead two Palestinian teenagers in the occupied West Bank, with Palestinian officials and the Israeli military offering conflicting accounts.

Palestinian officials said the pair, aged 15 and 19, were killed on Monday in the area of Beit Ummar.

The Israeli military said they attacked a nearby Jewish settlement with fire bombs and burning tyres.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the Israeli military's account. Of the three people the military said it shot at, one was wounded and two were killed.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the third person was hospitalized in a stable condition, aged 15.

Israeli troops conduct frequent raids in the West Bank and have tightened movement restrictions on Palestinian villages near settlements in recent months.

Settler attacks on Palestinians have risen sharply, with at least 57 Palestinians killed since the start of the year, according to UN data.

Palestinians have also carried out attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers, including at least one deadly incident in 2026.