Jerusalem, Israel – The body of 14-year-old Israeli shepherd, Benjamin Achimeir, was tragically discovered in the West Bank on Saturday morning. Authorities are treating his death as a terror attack. According to Israeli media reports, Achimeir was last seen leaving the settlement of Malachei Shalom early Friday, with the sheep he was shepherding later returning without him. His body was found by a drone on Saturday, with initial reports suggesting he may have been shot.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, stating, “We will get to the murderers and their helpers as we do to anyone who harms the citizens of the state of Israel.” In response to Achimeir’s killing, the Israeli army has classified it as a “terrorist attack,” although no group has claimed responsibility for the act.
Following the discovery of Achimeir’s body, tensions escalated in the West Bank. Settlers launched violent attacks on the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir, resulting in the death of 26-year-old Jehad Abu Alia and injuries to 25 others, as reported by Palestinian health officials. Subsequently, settlers returned to the village, burning 12 homes and several cars. In a neighboring village, Douma, settlers also set fire to approximately 15 homes and 10 farms while clashing with villagers.
The West Bank, claimed as Palestinian territory but occupied by Israel since 1967, has been a hotspot of conflict and violence. The recent surge in settler attacks comes amidst ongoing tensions in the region, with over 460 Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire in the past six months alone. Set against the backdrop of an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank remains a volatile area where Hamas-backed groups are attempting to incite further unrest.
The fallout from Achimeir’s death coincides with heightened concerns in Israel over a potential direct attack from Iran. Following the killing of a Revolutionary Guards leader in an Israeli strike, Iran has threatened retaliation and recently seized a Portuguese-flagged, Israeli-linked ship near the Strait of Hormuz. As Israel grapples with internal violence and external threats, the situation in the region remains precarious and uncertain.