The incident occurred near the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, in an area close to the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur, according to Israeli and Palestinian accounts.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA identified the victims as 15 and 19 years old. A relative confirmed their ages to Reuters. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said a third Palestinian, aged 15, was wounded and taken to hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

The Israeli military said troops opened fire on three individuals who were allegedly throwing fire bombs and setting tires alight near the settlement. According to the military, two of the suspects were killed and a third was wounded.

Reuters could not independently verify the military’s account, and Palestinian officials did not immediately provide additional details regarding the circumstances of the shooting.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli forces have intensified security operations and movement restrictions around Palestinian communities located near Israeli settlements.

The territory has witnessed a rise in violence involving Israeli security forces, settlers and Palestinians since the start of the year. According to United Nations data, at least 57 Palestinians have been killed in incidents involving Israeli settlers or security forces in the West Bank in 2026.

Palestinians have also carried out attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and settlers in the territory. Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agency has reported at least one deadly Palestinian attack in the West Bank this year.

The status of Israeli settlements remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most countries and United Nations bodies regard the settlements as illegal under international law and an obstacle to a future Palestinian state. Israel disputes that interpretation, arguing that the territory is disputed and citing historical Jewish ties to the area.

No immediate indication was given that the latest incident would trigger a formal investigation, and neither side announced additional security measures following the shooting.

Qusai Rayyan, 29, was shot and arrested by Israeli forces during a raid in Salfit Governorate in the northwestern West Bank on April 15, amid continuing Israeli operations across the territory that authorities say are aimed at addressing security threats.

The Palestinian Ministry of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees Affairs said Rayyan had undergone several surgeries at Beilinson Hospital in northern Israel following the shooting, but remained unconscious and his condition continued to deteriorate.

The ministry said Israeli authorities had informed them that he would be released, though no specific date was immediately provided.

The development was also reported by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids across the West Bank since the escalation of the Gaza war, conducting arrests and house searches targeting individuals suspected of militant activity or political involvement.

Palestinian officials and human rights groups have raised growing concerns over the treatment of detainees, particularly those injured during arrests and those held without formal charges.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 40 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in the occupied West Bank since January.

Palestinian authorities also say Israeli security forces continue to withhold the bodies of dozens of Palestinians killed during military raids since October 2023, a practice that has drawn criticism from families and legal advocacy groups.

The number of detainees reported to have died in Israeli custody since October 2023 has surpassed 100, according to Palestinian officials. Of those, 84 have been publicly identified, including 50 detainees from Gaza.

The broader issue of detainee treatment remains one of the most sensitive aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly as violence in the West Bank has intensified alongside the war in Gaza.

Neither Israeli military authorities nor prison officials immediately issued public comment on Rayyan’s condition or the reasons for his release.