Labib Dumaidi, a 19-year-old Palestinian, lost his life when a group of Israeli settlers attacked the town of Huwara in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The incident, part of a surge in settler violence, has ignited tensions and raised concerns over the safety of Palestinian residents.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed on Friday that Dumaidi was shot in the heart by an Israeli settler. According to relatives, Dumaidi sought refuge on the roof of his home during the assault when he was shot. However, the Israeli military offers a conflicting account, stating that a suspect was shot after allegedly throwing a brick at a vehicle, providing no details about the victim’s identity.

Witnesses reported more than 200 settlers gathering in Huwara after midnight, engaging in aggressive behavior. Palestinian resident Abderrahman Dmidi described the scene, saying, “They began throwing stones towards some houses, and then the young people … tried to defend their homes by throwing stones.” Residents accused Israeli soldiers of turning a blind eye to the violence, highlighting concerns about settler militias being protected by occupation forces.

Labib Dumaidi, a university student, became the latest victim in a series of settler violence incidents targeting Palestinians in the West Bank. The attacks often involve mob violence against towns and residents, sometimes occurring in the presence of Israeli soldiers. Some incidents follow Palestinian attacks on Israeli settlements and settlers.

The killing of Dumaidi prompted the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to denounce it as a “heinous crime.” In response, a funeral procession for Dumaidi resulted in further clashes, with the Palestinian Red Crescent reporting at least 51 Palestinians injured as Israeli forces employed tear gas, rubber-tipped bullets, and live fire.

The attack occurred a day after a Palestinian gunman shot at an Israeli car in Huwara, a town surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements under international law.