Palestinian National Youth Footballer Dies Week After West Bank Settler Shooting
A Palestinian teenage national youth footballer died from wounds sustained in an Israeli settler attack in the occupied West Bank, as separate incidents saw a Palestinian woman die after an Israeli army delay of her ambulance and ongoing violence including settler arson attacks on Palestinian property.
Palestinian Youth Footballer Dies After Settler Attack
Fadi Hamdallah al-Nassan, 17, a member of the Palestinian national youth football team, was shot in the thigh by Israeli forces during a settler attack on his village of al-Mughayyir on July 11, had his leg amputated, and died from his injuries on Saturday. [4] Dozens of mourners carried his body from the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to al-Mughayyir for burial. [4] The Palestine Football Association stated that the number of martyrs from the Palestinian sports movement since October 7, 2023, has risen to 1,013, including 568 from the football family. [4] Al-Nassan played for Al-Mughayyir Club and was a member of the Palestinian national youth team. [4] Israeli forces shot al-Nassan in the thigh while settlers were attacking the village. [4] His leg was later amputated, and he died from the injuries. [4] His father, Hamdallah al-Nassan, said his son had run towards the scene after hearing women and girls screaming during the assault. [4] “He went to the scene of the attack and was killed,” he said. [4] “He was a good student, good in sports, and loved playing football. Everyone loved him,” his mother, Hanan al-Nassan, said. [4] His death has drawn new attention to the escalating violence carried out by Israeli settlers and soldiers against Palestinian communities across the West Bank. [4]
Ambulance Delay Leads to Death of Palestinian Woman in Ramallah
Separately, a Palestinian woman identified as Sujoud Fuqaha, a mother of two, died after the Israeli army delayed an ambulance transporting her for more than 30 minutes at a military gate in Ramallah. [1] The Sinjil mayor says the ambulance transporting Sujoud Fuqaha, mother of two, to hospital was forced to wait for more than 30 minutes at the military gate before being granted permission to pass. [1] This incident occurred amid the broader pattern of delays and restrictions reported in the Ramallah area. [1]
Settler and Military Violence Escalates Across West Bank
Israeli settlers and forces set fire to Palestinian property in two attacks on Saturday, destroying olive trees near Ramallah and a family home near Nablus. [4] In Deir Qaddis west of Ramallah, soldiers fired live rounds and tear gas at farmers, starting fires in olive groves while preventing civil defence crews from responding. [4] The attacks came the same day Israeli forces raided homes in towns near Jenin. [4] Near Nablus, a group of settlers set fire to a Palestinian family’s home in the town of Tal, destroying it completely. [4] Israeli forces also raided homes in Yabad and Mithlon, near Jenin. [4] These events form part of the incursions and settler violence that Palestinian communities across the territory face on a near-daily basis. [4]
Israeli Forces Continue Operations in Lebanon
Israeli forces continue attacks against Lebanon, including cutting down trees planted along roadsides in Bint Jbeil. [3] Lebanese media reported the tree-cutting operation by Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese area. [3] Such actions represent the ongoing pattern of reported Israeli operations in the region. [3]
Jordan Emerges as Flashpoint in US-Iran Conflict
Jordan has become a flashpoint in the US-Iran conflict, with four Iranian attacks in five days killing two US service members and wounding dozens. [2] Overall, 14 US troops have died and more than 400 wounded in the Middle East conflict since February 28. [2] The United States announced its first troop deaths from direct Iranian attacks. [2] The Pentagon stated that since Monday 13 soldiers suffered injuries from Iranian attacks on US-used bases in the Middle East. [5] Of the wounded, 10 were from the army and three from the navy. [5] Iran attacked bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan in recent days. [5] The official US record shows that since February 28, the start of the military conflict, 14 US soldiers have lost their lives in the Middle East in connection with combat actions, and more than 400 have been wounded. [5] CENTCOM reported that the death toll reached 14 earlier in the week. [5] One additional soldier died when a helicopter crashed over the Arabian Sea on July 1. [5] The other 13 soldiers died in March in various incidents. [5] Six died in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait. [5] Six more died when an aerial refueling plane collided and crashed in Iraq. [5] One US soldier died in Saudi Arabia during an Iranian attack on a US air base there. [5]
What to watch next: Further reports on ambulance movements at checkpoints in the Ramallah area, additional tree-cutting operations along roadsides in Bint Jbeil, and any new Iranian attacks on US-linked positions including those in Jordan.
