On June 26, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that Mustafa Taha Mustafa al-Khatib, 32, was killed by Israeli occupation forces’ gunfire in Salfit, West Bank. According to relatives, al-Khatib was shot dead in his home when Israeli soldiers stormed it. The family said he had returned from Jordan two years ago to work in agriculture and construction and had no links to any armed groups.
The victim's uncle, Yassin Khatib, described the incident as “a cold-blooded execution.” He said: “From the broken door and damaged room furniture, it is clear Israeli soldiers forced their way in without giving al-Khatib time to open the door or get dressed.” Relatives also accused the Israeli military of preventing an ambulance from reaching the scene for nearly two hours. The Palestinian Prisoners Society said the victim’s body was left in the house after a search.
The Israeli military claimed soldiers fired at a person “throwing objects” at them during the raid.
On the same day, another Palestinian was killed in the al-Atatra area of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, following Israeli military fire. The body was taken to the al-Shifa Medical Complex. A drone strike also targeted a group of pedestrians near the Italian Complex in Gaza City, wounding two people, one critically.
The violence comes amid a surge in settler attacks in Halhul, north of Hebron, where residents said about 35 masked settlers threw stones at homes and attempted to start fires after a nearby outpost was dismantled.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli violations of a cease-fire that took effect on October 10, 2025, have killed 1,031 Palestinians and wounded 3,309. The total number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023 has exceeded 73,000.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said al-Khatib's death raised the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the start of the year to 72, including 17 children, 5 women, and 2 elderly people.
