Israeli settlers in Mukhmas, near Ramallah, killed Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian American, during violent clashes on February 19, 2026. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed his death from critical injuries sustained during the incident.
Witnesses, including a local resident, reported that a group of settlers attacked a farmer, which led to confrontations between the settlers and villagers. Israeli forces later arrived, escalating the situation. During this chaos, armed settlers killed Abu Siyam and injured several others. Local reports indicate that the Israeli military used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd.
Israeli military officials acknowledged the use of "riot dispersal methods" but denied firing upon the Palestinians during the clashes. However, witnesses claim that settlers were emboldened by the presence of the military, leading them to fire live bullets and engage in further violence.
Abu Siyam's death is part of a worrying rise in settler violence. In the past year, 240 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the United Nations. The Palestinian Authority's Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission highlighted that Abu Siyam was the first fatality caused by settlers in 2026.
His mother confirmed that Abu Siyam was a US citizen, making him the second Palestinian American killed by Israeli settlers in less than a year. A spokesperson from the US Embassy condemned the violence, urging accountability for such acts.
This violent incident underscores ongoing tensions in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian communities frequently face attacks from settlers, often with impunity. The UN and various human rights organizations have raised alarms over the growing frequency of such incidents and the overall deteriorating security situation for Palestinians.
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