Bethlehem: Two Palestinians were martyred Thursday after Israeli occupation forces opened fire on them south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that the General Authority of Civil Affairs has informed them of the martyrdom of two young men south of Bethlehem, and their bodies have been withheld.

The occupation forces claimed that the two young men carried out a shooting operation near the settlement of Gush Etzion, which is built on Palestinian land south of Bethlehem, resulting in the death of a settler.

Cities across the West Bank have witnessed ongoing escalation by Israeli occupation forces and settlers since October 7, 2023, leading to the martyrdom of around 1,000 Palestinians and the injury of nearly 7,000 others, according to Palestinian human rights reports.