PA forces kill two children while arresting father pursued by Israel in West Bank

Palestinian Authority security forces shot dead two children in the occupied West Bank on Sunday while trying to detain their father, a man previously wanted by Israel, in an operation that has fuelled anger over the PA's ongoing security coordination with the Israeli forces.

Ali Samara, 16, was killed after officers opened fire on the family's vehicle at the entrance to the town of Tammun in the northern West Bank, according to relatives.

His four-year-old sister, Rozana, was critically wounded in the head and later died in hospital. Another child was injured in the ambush.

Their father, 44-year-old Samer Samara, was shot in the leg and taken into custody by the PA's Preventive Security Force. His whereabouts have not been publicly disclosed.

According to the family, members of the Preventive Security unit, some masked, lay in wait at a junction outside Tammun. When Samara attempted to avoid what he believed to be an undercover unit, officers opened fire on the car carrying his children.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian security services confirmed Samara was "wanted" but did not clarify by whom, with local sources saying he had previously been pursued by Israeli forces and was affiliated with Islamic Jihad.

Samara was arrested several times by Israel in the past. In 2017, he was detained by the Israeli army and later escaped custody while being transported to hospital inside Israel.

For many Palestinians, Sunday's killings have reinforced longstanding accusations that the PA's security apparatus operates in alignment with Israeli priorities, detaining and suppressing individuals sought by Israel while failing to shield communities from settler and military violence.

Public outrage and demands for accountability

The deaths of the two children sparked immediate outrage in Tammun, where residents gathered outside the hospital condemning "reckless" and "unjustified force" against a family.

In a statement, the Samara family demanded the unconditional release of Samer Samara and called for those responsible for the killings to be held accountable.

Hamas condemned the incident as evidence of the PA's "repressive policies" and urged an end to security coordination with Israel.

The Palestinian security services expressed "deep sorrow" and announced an investigation, but many residents voiced scepticism over whether meaningful accountability would follow.

The incident comes amid deepening public distrust of the Palestinian Authority, whose leadership faces mounting criticism over corruption, repression and continued coordination with Israeli security forces.

Tammun lies in the Jordan Valley, an area heavily targeted by Israeli settlement expansion and military operations. Residents routinely face land confiscations, movement restrictions and settler attacks, with little protection from the PA.

At the same time, the Authority remains financially weakened after Israel withheld large portions of Palestinian tax revenues, while Israeli raids across the West Bank have repeatedly damaged infrastructure and undermined local governance.

Many note that while the PA moves swiftly against Palestinians wanted by Israel, it has proven either unwilling or unable to confront settler violence or halt Israeli incursions.

Many have drawn comparisons to the 2021 killing of activist Nizar Banat, who died after being beaten by PA security forces during his arrest. Despite promises of justice, the case has dragged on, further eroding public confidence.