On July 23, 2026, Israeli settlers reportly set fire to Palestinian agricultural fields, in Beit Furik, east of Nablus. Residents who went out to extinguish the flames came under live fire and attacks from Israeli forces and settlers, wounding four, according to Felesteen Online. Two later died: Mahmoud Hussein Abu Samra, 20, and Mohammad Samer Mleitat, 16, per the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Two other citizens were transported to the hospital after sustaining live gunshot wounds during the attack.

The ARAB48 News website quoted an Israeli army statement which claimed that a fire broke out near the illegal “Itamar” colony, alleging that the two slain Palestinians had stabbed a colonizer, before another settler shot and killed them. Jerusalem Posts pulished that "According to Israeli security officials, two Palestinians were shot dead at the scene by an Israeli civilian after allegedly stabbing Cohen".

The Israeli Magen David Adom reported that its ambulance crews and then an helicopter transported a 51-year-old Israeli settler, Itamar Cohen, to the hospital after he suffered stab wounds to the upper part of his body. A 51-year-old Israeli, Itamar Cohen, was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack near the West Bank settlement of Elon Moreh on Thursday morning. The man was injured at the Derech Avraham Farm, allegly by two Palestinian attackers.

It's not clear weather the two Palestinians, including a minor, were defending themselves against an attack or were attacking the settlers. There is also two versions of the responsability of the initial arson according to Israeli media and authorities or to the Palestinian ones.

Later, Israeli Media published taht Defense Minister Israel Katz and Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan spoke with Cohen, wishing him a speedy and full recovery and offering support to him and his family. Katz emphasized Israel's commitment to fighting terrorism, protecting its citizens, and strengthening settlement in the West Bank.

Youssef Hanani, the mayor of Beit Furik, told the WAFA News Agency that the Israeli aggression against the town was ongoing, amid a large-scale incursion by the army and settlers and residents rushed to extinguish the fires in their fields set by illegal settlers, when Israeli forces and colonizers opened live fire at them. After his death, the Israeli forces withheld their bodies.

Their killing occurred amid a widespread assault on the town, including the closure of its entrances and the deployment of soldiers and settlers in the Al-Sahl area, as well as the burning of vehicles and electricity poles and the forcing of families to evacuate their homes. The Israeli forces forced then a family to evacuate their home after attacking its owner near Hadath. Fires also damaged electricity poles, while settlers burned two vehicles. At the end of the day, dozens of residents remained unable to reach their homes after the Beit Furik military checkpoint was closed, while some workers are also unable to leave the town.

This incident occurred against a backdrop of settler violence since October 2023, including several pogroms and intentional arson attacks targeting Palestinian properties and crops in Beit Furik, carried out by settlers from nearby Israeli outposts.

Names of the martyrs:

Mahmoud Hussein Abu Samra, 20,

Mohammad Samer Mohammad Mleitāt, 16

A new pretext to avance the annexion of the West Bank:

On July 23, 2026, the Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered officials to accelerate the planned establishment of the Shalem settlement in Samaria following "a stabbing near Derech Avraham Farm". He also ordered the Civil Administration to map Palestinian structures he described as illegal and advance demolition/enforcement proceedings against them. Shalem is planned between Elon Moreh, Beit Furik and Beit Dajan, near Derech Avraham Farm that is currently an Israeli settlement outpost; the plan would transform it into a formally recognized settlement. Shalem is presented as strategic Israeli presence east of Nablus, creating territorial continuity between existing Israeli settlement points, and increasing control over roads and open areas. Critics argue the settlement would further fragment Palestinian territorial continuity between nearby villages and that the Israeli government is using a specific security incident to accelerate a long-term settlement and land-control project, alongside measures targeting Palestinian construction.

Authorities were investigating whether the fire had been deliberately set to lure people to the area before the attack.