Israeli soldiers surround a hospital in Nablus where they arrested a wounded man and his brother from inside the hospital in Nablus, the occupied West Bank, on July 24, 2026 [AFP]
Anonymous, by a resident currently living in Palestine.
Reported attacks in and around Tal
Israeli forces and armed Israeli settlers have been involved in a string of attacks in the occupied West Bank on Friday, including the deadliest in the village of Tal, southwest of the town of Nablus, Palestinian officials said.
Four family members were killed and three others seriously injured in the village, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority, by Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian sources said. They also noted other incidents against people and property in the neighboring areas of Awrif, Surra, Imatin, Far’ata, Umriha and the Masafer Yatta region.
Israeli troops also seized into custody several people after raiding Nablus Specialized Hospital, where they reportedly intimidated and assaulted medical staff and civilians, officials said.
Accounts of the confrontation in Tal
Sheikh Farouq Ramadan, the local farmer, is the centre of the events in Tal, which Palestinian officials call a lifelong resident who has no political or armed affiliation. The Palestinian version reads that Ramadan was protecting his house and other adjacent houses from armed settlers who broke into his family’s land.
Palestinian officials claimed Ramadan was unarmed when he faced settlers. He says it was during the attack; he was fighting with one of the attackers, grabbed his weapon and he was fighting back for his own protection. In the face-off, one Israeli settler was killed, while two others were injured.
Palestinian officials have tried to deny Ramadan the terrorist label, instead depicting him as a farmer who was fighting settlers who had taken over Palestinian land. They say his actions are in line with the internationally recognized right to self-defense, and refer to international law, which states Israeli settlements in territories occupied since 1967 are illegal.
Wider escalation across the West Bank
Tal was followed by a “widespread” escalation of violence across the West Bank, according to Palestinian authorities. They claim there have been significantly more attacks this year by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, killing 87 Palestinians, including 21 allegedly shot by settlers since the beginning of the year.
Palestinian officials also blamed the Israeli government for supporting settler organizations and groups with political and financial aid, saying that this has led to increased attacks to expand settlements and displaced Palestinian communities. They also pointed to an ongoing military campaign and airstrikes in Gaza as evidence that Israel is failing to adhere to the declaration of a ceasefire.
Israel’s military and political leadership have taken steps to speed up construction of new settlement outposts and bolster military operations throughout the West Bank, with a “progressive response” to be prepared against any attempt by Palestinian militants to attack Tal, Palestinian officials said, citing Israel’s defence minister and prime minister as making those decisions following the events there.
Palestinian calls for international action
The Palestinian leadership urged the international community to respond to what it termed its “legal and moral responsibility” by preventing the escalation, protecting Palestinian civilians, and holding Israel accountable for “alleged violations of international law.
Tawjihi celebrations give way to mourning
The violence also sullied what is considered one of the most joyful days of the year for Palestinian families. The Palestinian Ministry of Education announced the results of the national secondary school examinations (Tawjihi) earlier Friday. Many families in the West Bank were getting ready to celebrate their children’s success but in Nablus and other cities, they were mourning and canceling public celebrations, opting to remain inside their homes in respect of those who were killed during the day’s violence.