The incident occurred near the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, in an area close to the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur, according to Israeli and Palestinian accounts.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA identified the victims as 15 and 19 years old. A relative confirmed their ages to Reuters. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said a third Palestinian, aged 15, was wounded and taken to hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

The Israeli military said troops opened fire on three individuals who were allegedly throwing fire bombs and setting tires alight near the settlement. According to the military, two of the suspects were killed and a third was wounded.

Reuters could not independently verify the military’s account, and Palestinian officials did not immediately provide additional details regarding the circumstances of the shooting.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, where Israeli forces have intensified security operations and movement restrictions around Palestinian communities located near Israeli settlements.

The territory has witnessed a rise in violence involving Israeli security forces, settlers and Palestinians since the start of the year. According to United Nations data, at least 57 Palestinians have been killed in incidents involving Israeli settlers or security forces in the West Bank in 2026.

Palestinians have also carried out attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and settlers in the territory. Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agency has reported at least one deadly Palestinian attack in the West Bank this year.

The status of Israeli settlements remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most countries and United Nations bodies regard the settlements as illegal under international law and an obstacle to a future Palestinian state. Israel disputes that interpretation, arguing that the territory is disputed and citing historical Jewish ties to the area.

No immediate indication was given that the latest incident would trigger a formal investigation, and neither side announced additional security measures following the shooting.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military had standing orders to act against any threats encountered in Lebanon and reiterated that Israeli forces would not withdraw from the security zone extending roughly 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.

“There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on IDF soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats,” Katz said in a statement, adding that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made clear that Israel would maintain its presence in the area.

The comments underscored continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier despite diplomatic efforts involving Washington and Tehran to halt hostilities across multiple fronts in the region.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, said later on Sunday that implementation of provisions related to ending the conflict in Lebanon was a prerequisite for advancing negotiations with the United States on a final agreement following a deal reached earlier this week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran could not move into the next phase of negotiations unless commitments regarding a cessation of hostilities were fulfilled. In a post on X, he said the termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, remained essential to further diplomatic progress.

Baghaei also said the situation in Lebanon would dominate discussions with U.S. officials in Switzerland, alongside issues including frozen Iranian assets and Iranian oil exports.

“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, and this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” Baghaei said in remarks carried by the IRNA state news agency.

Tehran announced on Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Washington aimed at ending months of hostilities that began on Feb. 28 following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. Under the arrangement, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was also expected to cease.

Iran’s military said on Saturday it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it described as ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, adding another layer of uncertainty to regional security and energy markets.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, there were no reports of new strikes in Lebanon after Saturday evening. Baghaei said a “fragile cessation” of hostilities had been in place since Saturday.

The latest exchanges highlight the central role of the Lebanon conflict in wider regional diplomacy, as efforts continue to stabilize tensions following months of military confrontation involving Israel, Hezbollah, Iran and the United States.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the military said Hussein Qadra and Mohammed Farra, members of the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad respectively, were “eliminated” in an operation. The military did not provide details on the timing or location of the strike.

According to the Israeli military, Qadra and Farra jointly managed a financial network that operated under Hamas leadership and facilitated the transfer of more than 500 million shekels to the Palestinian militant group.

The military alleged that the network played a significant role in sustaining Hamas operations by channeling funds used to support the organization’s military activities. It did not provide additional evidence to support the claim.

No immediate comment was available from Hamas or Islamic Jihad regarding the Israeli statement.

The announcement comes as fighting and military operations continue across Gaza despite ongoing international efforts to secure a lasting end to the conflict. Israeli authorities have repeatedly identified financial networks as a key component of Hamas’s operational infrastructure and have intensified efforts to disrupt funding channels during the war.

Israel has previously targeted individuals it says are involved in financing militant organizations, arguing that financial operatives play a critical role in sustaining armed groups’ capabilities alongside commanders and combat personnel.

The Israeli military did not disclose whether additional individuals were targeted in the operation or provide further details about the structure and scope of the alleged funding network.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said Israeli forces attempted to advance toward the hills under the cover of the ceasefire. Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed the troops and engaged them with what it described as “appropriate weapons,” forcing a confrontation in the area.

The group did not provide details on casualties or the duration of the clash, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Hezbollah’s account.

Hezbollah said the incident demonstrated its determination to respond to any perceived violation of Lebanese territory while maintaining its commitment to the existing ceasefire arrangement.

“While it is committed to the ceasefire, it will not be lenient in confronting any enemy attempt to expand its occupation,” the group said in its statement.

The reported confrontation occurred near Nabatieh, a key city in southern Lebanon that has frequently been affected by hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The Ali Taher hills are considered strategically significant because of their elevated position overlooking surrounding areas.

The claim came hours after reports of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, where smoke was seen rising from areas around Nabatieh. The latest developments underscore the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing risk of renewed escalation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

Neither side immediately released independent verification of the events described by Hezbollah.

An overnight airstrike hit an apartment building in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, killing four members of the Al-Safadi family, including a husband, wife and their two daughters, Gaza’s civil defense agency said. The agency, which operates under Hamas authority, said the attack also wounded 12 other people.

Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed receiving the bodies of four members of the family, including two children.

Relatives said the victims were civilians with no involvement in militant activities. Nael Al-Safadi, a family member, said the strike occurred while the family was asleep inside the building.

Footage from the scene showed extensive damage to the apartment, with sections of the exterior wall destroyed and household belongings scattered among the rubble.

In a separate incident, Al-Shifa Hospital said it received the body of one person killed in an Israeli drone strike near an intersection in northern Gaza City.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on either incident.

The latest deaths come as Israel and Hamas continue to exchange accusations of violating the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10 last year. Although large-scale fighting has subsided, sporadic strikes and security incidents have continued across the territory, complicating efforts to secure a permanent end to the conflict.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, at least 1,012 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire began. The United Nations has generally regarded the ministry’s casualty figures as reliable, although independent verification remains difficult because of restrictions on media access and movement within Gaza.

The Israeli military has reported five fatalities among its forces during the same period.

The continuing violence highlights the fragility of the truce and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts aimed at transforming the ceasefire into a lasting political settlement.

The discussions come a day after Washington and Tehran signed an interim agreement that commits participating parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a provision that could complicate Israel’s efforts to preserve a military presence in areas it has seized during recent operations.

Two Israeli officials, including a senior official close to Netanyahu, told Reuters that Israel is seeking U.S. acceptance of its continued troop deployment south of Lebanon’s Litani River, a strategically important area that Israeli leaders regard as essential to national security.

The senior official said Israel was conducting “stubborn negotiations” with Washington and would not retreat from its core position that troops should remain deployed in southern Lebanon despite mounting international pressure.

A second Israeli official said the outcome could ultimately depend on whether Trump chooses to exert direct pressure on Israel by linking compliance with the broader U.S.-Iran diplomatic framework to future bilateral cooperation.

Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Israel expanded military operations in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched attacks against Israeli territory on March 2 in support of Iran following the outbreak of hostilities involving Tehran and its regional allies. Israeli forces subsequently carried out a large-scale air and ground campaign aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.

Israeli officials have described territory captured in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria as part of a network of “buffer zones” designed to provide strategic depth and reduce security threats along Israel’s borders. Netanyahu has consistently rejected calls for withdrawal from those areas, arguing that they are necessary to prevent future attacks.

The dispute over Lebanon has become one of the most visible points of friction between Trump and Netanyahu despite their close cooperation during the conflict with Iran.

Speaking at the conclusion of the G7 summit in France on Wednesday, Trump publicly urged the Israeli leader to exercise greater restraint in Lebanon and suggested that military actions should be calibrated to support diplomatic efforts rather than undermine them.

“Netanyahu happens to be a good man, gets a little excited sometimes,” Trump told reporters.

The U.S. president added that Israel could adopt a “softer touch” in dealing with Hezbollah and questioned the necessity of extensive military strikes in response to every perceived threat.

“We have a little dispute over Lebanon. I say you can do a little softer touch, Bibi,” Trump said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

The disagreement reflects broader tensions surrounding efforts to convert the U.S.-Iran interim agreement into a permanent settlement. Iran has repeatedly argued that any durable regional arrangement must include an end to hostilities in Lebanon and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas.

Netanyahu has maintained that Israel is not bound by agreements negotiated between Washington and Tehran and retains full freedom of action against Hezbollah.

Despite the public disagreements, Trump acknowledged Netanyahu’s role during the conflict with Iran and praised the close military coordination between the United States and Israel throughout the campaign.

Trump also rejected reports suggesting that Washington had excluded Israel from discussions surrounding the interim agreement, stating that he had personally shared the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran. The framework is expected to serve as the basis for broader U.S.-Iran negotiations scheduled to begin in Switzerland on Friday.

The talks over Lebanon underscore the challenge facing both governments as they attempt to balance military objectives, regional diplomacy and competing visions for post-conflict security arrangements across the Middle East.

The military identified the soldier as Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, and said he “fell in combat” during operations in southern Lebanon.

According to a military statement released on Thursday, the incident also left an officer, a reserve officer and a reserve soldier moderately wounded. A combat non-commissioned officer, two reserve soldiers and a female reserve soldier sustained light injuries.

The military did not immediately provide further details regarding the circumstances of the clash or the location where the casualties occurred.

The casualties were reported a day after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding intended to lay the groundwork for ending the broader Middle East conflict. The agreement calls for a halt in fighting across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, where hostilities have persisted for months.

Lebanon became directly involved in the regional conflict after the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement launched rocket attacks against Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran following the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran and its allies.

Israel subsequently expanded military operations in southern Lebanon, carrying out extensive airstrikes and ground offensives that it said were aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities and preventing cross-border attacks.

Lebanese authorities say Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 3,800 people since fighting escalated earlier this year. The figures have not been independently verified.

On the Israeli side, military data indicate that 31 soldiers and one civilian contractor have been killed in connection with operations linked to the conflict since March 2, including the latest fatality.

The death of Filin comes as diplomatic negotiations continue over the future of Israeli troop deployments in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have said they are engaged in discussions with the United States regarding the possible continuation of military deployments in areas seized during the conflict, while Washington has pushed for broader efforts to stabilize the region under the emerging U.S.-Iran framework.

Despite signs of reduced hostilities in recent days, the latest casualties highlight the continuing risks faced by forces operating in southern Lebanon and the challenges confronting negotiators seeking a durable ceasefire.

The ministry said the total number of deaths since the start of the conflict had reached 73,001, according to Zaher Al-Waheidi, head of its records department, and Hamza Salem from its public relations department.
Five Palestinians were killed over the weekend, including two in the southern city of Khan Younis and one in central Gaza, while two others died from earlier injuries, the ministry said.

More than 173,200 people have been wounded since the war began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said an Israeli strike on Saturday evening killed two Palestinians in Khan Younis, with the casualties taken to Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

The Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led administration, is staffed by medical professionals and keeps detailed casualty records that United Nations agencies and independent experts have generally considered reliable. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its overall figures.

The ministry has said women and children account for around half of those killed.

Israel says it seeks to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of operating in densely populated areas. The Israeli military says its operations target militants and are conducted in response to security threats and alleged violations of the ceasefire.

The US-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in October halted large-scale military operations and resulted in the release of remaining hostages.
However, implementation of other parts of the agreement has stalled, with disagreements over Hamas disarmament and Israeli troop movements.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the deal while maintaining that it remains in force.
Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began.

Abu Safiya, 53, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appeared before the court through a video connection as judges considered whether to extend his detention. No ruling had been issued by Thursday afternoon, according to Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI).

The pediatrician became widely known during the war in Gaza for documenting conditions inside Kamal Adwan Hospital during an 85-day Israeli military siege. Through videos released during the conflict, he appealed for international assistance as medical staff struggled to treat patients amid severe shortages and ongoing hostilities.

Images from Wednesday’s hearing showed Abu Safiya wearing white prison clothing and handcuffs. Observers said he appeared visibly thinner and pale, with marks visible on his arms.

PHRI said Abu Safiya was recently transferred to solitary confinement. His son, Elias Abu Safiya, said the move occurred shortly after the doctor challenged his detention through legal channels.

Israeli authorities have not formally charged Abu Safiya with a crime. The Israeli military has said he is being investigated on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza. Medical colleagues and international aid organizations that worked with him have rejected those allegations.

Following the hearing, defense lawyer Nasser Odeh conveyed a statement he said came from Abu Safiya, in which the doctor maintained that his work had been solely humanitarian and medical in nature.

Israel’s Justice Ministry did not immediately comment on the case. The Israeli Prison Service rejected allegations of mistreatment, stating that all detainees receive professional medical care and that complaints submitted through official channels are examined.

According to PHRI, 14 physicians from Gaza remain in Israeli detention. Rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the detention of medical personnel during the conflict and have called for greater transparency regarding their legal status and conditions of confinement.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are widely cited by international organizations though they do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Abu Safiya’s detention remains pending.

An explosion was heard in the city before a vehicle was seen engulfed in flames, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. Emergency responders and firefighters rushed to the area, where rescuers were observed pulling two people from the targeted car.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the incident involved “an enemy strike on a car” in the center of Sidon. No immediate information was released regarding casualties or the identities of those inside the vehicle.

Sidon, a major commercial and population center on Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast, has been comparatively less affected than other parts of southern and eastern Lebanon that have experienced repeated Israeli strikes since the escalation of hostilities involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Israel.

The city hosts the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp and has also received large numbers of people displaced by ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon.

The strike was the latest reported attack on Sidon after an Israeli strike on a building in the city on May 28 killed five people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Separately on Wednesday, the Israeli military said its forces operating in southern Lebanon detained two individuals who approached troops in the area.

In a statement, the military said soldiers identified two “suspected individuals” near positions where Israeli forces were operating. The individuals were apprehended and transferred to Israel for questioning after troops moved to eliminate any potential threat.

The military did not provide further details regarding the identities of the detainees or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The developments underscore continuing security tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where military activity and cross-border hostilities have persisted despite international calls for de-escalation.