Assassination of Muhammad Naysan 14 y/o in Al Mughayyir

On January 16, 2026, Israeli settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army, stormed an area south of al-Mughayyir, neighbourhood of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. Since early morning, settler herders have stormed the Khalayel area south of the village, firing live rounds and repeatedly targeting residents, the Abu Hamam family, and their property.

The attacks included a direct assault by one settler herder against the Abu Hammam family. During the three hour raid at Abu Hamam’s, Israeli forces took the security cameras and forbade Palestinians and internationals from eating. All four internationals were arrested under false accusations of assault of a minor and conduct to violate public peace while one is accused of use of poison to commit a crime and two are accused of attempt of injury to an animal. Locals report that settlers also opened fire in the vicinity of the property after the arrests.

Then, Israeli forces stormed the village, leading to confrontations during which live ammunition was fired heavily at residents. The attack killed Mohammed Saad Na’san, 14, who was hit in the back and chest.

The Israeli military said in a statement that troops fatally shot Naasan because he was “running towards them carrying a rock”.

Name of the martyr:

Mohammed Saad Na’san, 14

On Saturday, thousands of mourners take part in the funeral procession of Mohammad Saad Naasan, amid widespread anger over the continued targeting of minors during Israeli military raids

Aftermath: Israeli raid on January 17 and 18:

0n January 17, 2026, Israeli forces raided the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, since afternoon.

They arrested a Palestinian woman and an international activist, detaining Hidaya Rizq from her family's farmstead in the al-Khalayel area, south of the village, while forcing other activists and residents present in the area to leave.

Whil a settler blocked an agricultural road, preventing residents from accessing their land.

According to the Deputy Director of Al-Mughair Village Council, Marzouq Abu Naim, they attacked the mourning house of the martyred child Muhammad Al-Naasan, raided a number of houses, and turned the house of citizen Hamza Abu Aliya into a military barracks, after forcing his family members to leave it, in light of the difficult weather conditions. They assaulted the child Nader Abu Aliya, who has special needs, and tried to force him to walk, despite his physical disability.

They also attacked Al-Badr Tiles Company and its owner, confiscating the company’s cameras and removing their recordings.

The incursions into the village have caused the suspension of school attendance for students.

Defense for Children- Palestine Investigation:

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-Mughayyir around 12:30 p.m. on January 16. 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-Mughayyir 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.

Broader context: harssements against the Abu Hamam family:

The Abu Hamam family has faced months of coordinated intimidation by Israeli forces and settlers aimed at forcing them off their land. Settlers regularly graze sheep on the family’s and neighbors’ land, damaging olive trees, stealing water, and dismantling fences, with the Israeli army allegedly enabling or ignoring these actions. A particular settler has repeatedly harassed the family and nearby Palestinian residents, destroying property to allow livestock to damage olive groves. Israeli forces conducted repeated raids searching for activists, while settlers continued to move freely and harass Palestinians without consequence.

International solidarity activists staying with the family or its protective presence have been targeted:

1. On December 7, 2025, a settler attack injured the family matriarch, a 13-year-old child, and four international activists.
2. On December 12, 2025, activists were arrested at the property under a military area order that did not include the Abu Hamam home.
3. On December 18, two US activists were deported after a week in detention.
4. On December 30, three international activists were violently detained, held incommunicado for hours, and later transferred to a police station.
5. On December 21, the family was threatened with house demolition if they continued hosting international supporters, as settlers simultaneously chased activists nearby.

The overall pattern of actions is described as an effort to forcibly displace the Abu Hamam family, facilitating settlement expansion linking areas from East Ramallah to South Nablus and the Jordan Valley.

On January 17, the following day of the assassination, Israeli forces arrested Hadaya Abu Naim, a Palestinian woman visiting relatives, on accusations of stone throwing that were later contradicted by video evidence. Her arrest followed an incident in which a settler blocked her vehicle. Israeli forces then declared the area a closed military zone, presenting an expired order and quickly replacing it with a new one. Activists present at the scene were forcibly removed, with one arrested, while the settler was allowed to remain. These events came after the arrest and deportation of international activists accused based on settler claims.

According to reports, these actions are part of a year-long campaign of harassment, violence, and coordinated activity by Israeli forces and settlers aimed at forcibly displacing the Abu Hamam family.