A Palestinian man identified as Qassem Hussam was shot in the leg by an Israeli soldier during an altercation in Faqqua, a town in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred when Israeli settlers entered the area with livestock to graze on land owned by Palestinian residents. When villagers attempted to prevent the settlers from accessing their property, Israeli military forces arrived at the scene and personnel opened fire. Hussam was transported to a hospital in a private vehicle after witnesses were unable to access ambulance services, and the Palestine Red Crescent reported his condition as light to moderate.
The Israeli Defense Force acknowledged receiving a report of the encounter and confirmed that one of its soldiers had fired. An official statement indicated that forces “fired into the air and toward a Palestinian” during the friction between Israeli civilians and Palestinians near Faqqua. The military announced it would conduct a review of the incident, with findings to be forwarded to relevant authorities. According to reporting, the soldier’s actions may have constituted a breach of army protocol, prompting an investigation.
The shooting represents one of several incidents of violence in the West Bank during this period. On the same day, Israeli forces conducted raids in the Jenin governorate, resulting in six arrests and injuries to a fourteen-year-old boy. Additionally, Israeli settlers attacked the outskirts of Burqa, throwing stones at homes and vehicles. An earlier incident on 4 September resulted in the deaths of two Palestinian teenagers after settlers entered al-Mughayyir.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and several countries over settler violence in the occupied territories. The UK government announced a shift in policy, declaring Israel’s occupation of the West Bank unlawful and implementing sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements. Multiple nations, including France and Canada, have similarly announced sanctions in response to rising settler activity. Israel’s government responded with retaliatory measures, including closure of a diplomatic consulate and entry bans on foreign officials.
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