Key facts
- A Palestinian nurse, Muhammad Mutoor, 26, was shot and partially paralysed in the West Bank town of Sa'ir.
- Mutoor sustained a severed spinal cord injury when shot in the back by an Israeli settler.
- Settlers blocked access to the area, hindering emergency medical response.
- The incident occurred amid a sharp escalation of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
- The UN has documented over 1,330 settler attacks in 2026, resulting in casualties and displacement.
A Palestinian nurse, Muhammad Mutoor, 26, was shot and partially paralysed in the West Bank town of Sa'ir on Saturday when Israeli settlers attacked the area. Mutoor had gone to the town northeast of Hebron to assist those injured during the settler assault, but was shot in the back, severing his spinal cord.
His uncle, Khalil Mutoor, stated that settlers were firing live ammunition randomly and aimed to kill. Ambulances were unable to reach the injured nurse due to settlers blocking access after establishing a new outpost. Mutoor was eventually transported to a hospital, where doctors confirmed his paralysis, offering little hope for recovery.
The attack is part of a broader escalation of settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Activists report that settlers have established numerous outposts on Sa'ir's lands, seizing territory and terrorizing residents. The Israeli army was present during the incident but did not intervene.
In a separate incident nearby, ten Palestinians were wounded in another settler attack in Hebron's al-Ja'bari neighbourhood. The UN has documented a significant rise in settler attacks in 2026, with over 1,330 incidents resulting in casualties and displacement.