A U.S. State Department official confirmed on February 21, 2026, the death of an American citizen in the West Bank on February 18, extending condolences to the family and calling for a full investigation, as stated to NewsNation reporter Kellie Meyer in a statement shared at approximately 11:00 PM UTC within the reporting window from 10:46 PM to 12:15 AM UTC. The official noted that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has been in direct contact with the family to provide assistance, according to the statement provided to NewsNation. This confirmation comes amid ongoing tensions in the region. Separately, N12 News published exclusive documentation on the smuggling system used to bring goods into the Gaza Strip, as shared by @BranuTegene referencing a link to n12.pro at an unspecified time within the window. This West Bank development follows previous reports of criminal violence in northern Israel, including a drone-dropped grenade on a house in Kafr Kanna injuring four people on February 21 at 10:29 PM UTC, as documented in earlier coverage.
