deadly violence in the occupied West Bank after the disappearance of a 14-year-old shepherd

Violence broke out on Friday April 12, in the Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The clashes took place on the sidelines of search operations for Benjamin Achimeir, a 14-year-old Israeli who went missing the same day. One Palestinian was killed and six others were injured by Israeli military fire, while three Israeli soldiers were lightly injured by gunfire, reports the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Having left at dawn on Friday morning with his herd from Malachei Hashalom, an illegal colony, Benjamin Achimeir never returned home. The army and border guards have since carried out searches in several localities, which led to clashes with Palestinians. According to the Israeli army, settlers entered the village and set fire to several places.

Midday Saturday, roadblocks were still in place around the village of Al-Mughayyir, as described by several reporters on site, including the Al-Jazeera correspondent. The authorities fear further clashes, while the teenager has still not been found and the burial of the Palestinian killed yesterday has yet to take place.