Israeli settlers attacked a village in the West Bank, killing one Palestinian and wounding 25

(Patria) - Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, shooting and burning homes and cars. One Palestinian was killed and 25 others wounded, Palestinian health officials said, AP reported.

The violence was the latest in an escalation in the West Bank that has accompanied the war in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli human rights group said settlers were searching for a missing 14-year-old boy from their settlement. After the attack, the Israeli military said it was still searching for the teenager.

Palestinian health officials say more than 460 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces since the outbreak of the war in October. The Israeli human rights group Yesh Din said settlers stormed the village of al-Mughayyir late on Friday, searching for the boy. The group said settlers shot and burned homes in the village.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that one man was brought to the hospital dead, and 25 were treated for wounds. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said eight of the wounded were hit by live fire from settlers. The family later identified the deceased man as 26-year-old Jehad Abu Alia. His father said he was shot and killed, but he is unsure if the fatal bullet was fired by an armed settler or an Israeli soldier.

The attack was condemned by Mohamed Mustafa, the new Palestinian prime minister. The Israeli military said it was searching for the 14-year-old boy and that forces opened fire when Palestinians threw stones at soldiers. It stated that “shots were identified,” and soldiers also expelled Israeli settlers from the village. “As of this moment, violent unrest has dispersed and there are no Israeli civilians in the town,” it stated.

U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have repeatedly expressed concern over the rise in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Human rights groups have long accused the military of failing to stop settler violence or punish soldiers for misconduct.