An illegal Israeli settler killed on Saturday two Palestinian brothers after ramming them with his car near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, before fleeing the scene, Palestinian media reported.

Wafa news agency quoted Zakaria Fayala, a spokesperson for Al-Quds Governorate, as saying that Mohammad (28) and Muhannad Mutair (24), from the Qalandia refugee camp, had stopped their car by the side of the road near the Zatara military checkpoint, south of Nablus, to fix a flat tire before an Israeli settler directly drove his car directly into them, instantly killing Mohammad and seriously injuring Muhannad. The latter was rushed to a hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead shortly after.

lsraeli settlers murders a Palestinian young man and seriously injures his brother after he intentionally ran them over at Za’tara checkpoint south of Nablus city. pic.twitter.com/bXSJvQM06Z

— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) December 17, 2022

Reacting to the crime, Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qassem said Israeli settlers "are escalating their aggression against our people," pointing out that the formation of a new right-wing Israeli government has apparently encouraged settlers to increase their crimes against Palestinians.

Qassem considered that "this crime is a new episode in the series of Zionist terrorism under the protection of the occupation police and army," underscoring that "this crime must be answered by increasing the resistance in the West Bank."

The Hamas Spokesperson stressed the need for further enhancement of Palestinians' "state of revolution and resistance" against the Israeli occupation across the occupied territories.

The two Palestinian brothers, Mohammad and Mohannad Mteir, who were killed after they were run over by an lsraeli settler at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus city last night. pic.twitter.com/uFEtBUGwF0

— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) December 18, 2022

It is noteworthy that on Saturday, UN experts named the occupied West Bank as having seen the deadliest series of events in 2022 at the hands of Israeli settlers and the IOF. 

According to the UN, 150 Palestinians have been murdered in the occupied West Bank this year by the IOF.

"Armed and masked Israeli settlers are attacking Palestinians in their homes, attacking children on their way to school, destroying property and burning olive groves, and terrorising entire communities with complete impunity," the UN experts pointed out as they listed the crimes that "Israel" has been committing against the Palestinians.

"Disturbing evidence of Israeli forces frequently facilitating, supporting and participating in settler attacks, makes it difficult to discern between Israeli settler and State violence," the experts said.

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