Ramallah, January 19, 2026—Israeli forces shot and killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in the central occupied West Bank on Friday.
Mohammad Sa'd Sami Na'san, 15, was shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers while Palestinian worshippers were exiting the Eastern Mosque in the town of Al-Mughayyer around 12:30 p.m. on January 16, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International - Palestine. Israeli forces discharged tear gas canisters and stun grenades as worshippers exited the mosque after noon prayers. Palestinian youths threw stones toward the soldiers. The soldiers, who were on foot, opened fire and shot Mohammad in the chest from no more than 20 meters (65 feet) away. Mohammad was transported in a private vehicle first to the health center in Abu Falah, then to the Ramallah Medical Complex, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Israeli forces had been routinely harassing Palestinian worshippers on Fridays at the Eastern Mosque in Al-Mughayyer for weeks.
Mohammad was struck by a single bullet that penetrated his chest near his heart and exited from his side.
Mohammad is the first Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank in 2026, according to documentation collected by DCIP. Israeli forces and settlers killed 56 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank in 2025.
Decades of systemic impunity has created a situation where Israeli forces shoot to kill without limit. As Palestinian children are increasingly targets in the West Bank, Israeli forces’ rules of engagement seemingly allow direct targeting of Palestinian children where no threat exists to justify the use of intentional lethal force.
