Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has released a video that it claims shows Israeli soldiers executing two Palestinian men who had surrendered during a military raid in Jenin, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The footage, attributed to Palestine TV and not yet independently verified by CBS News, appears to depict the two men emerging from a building with their hands raised in surrender.
The video reveals the men lifting their shirts and kneeling as soldiers approach them. One soldier is seen kicking one of the men before both begin to move back into the building, allegedly following orders from the soldiers. Gunshots then ring out, and one of the men collapses in the doorway. The two individuals have been identified by B’Tselem as Yusef ‘Asa’sah, 39, and al-Muntaser bel-lah ‘Abdallah, 26, both of whom were reportedly wanted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
IDF’s Response and Context of the Incident
The IDF confirmed it was conducting an operation to apprehend wanted individuals in Jenin on that day, stating that the men had been involved in “terror activities, including hurling explosives and firing at security forces.” In a statement, the IDF detailed that their forces had surrounded the area and initiated a surrender procedure that extended over several hours. Following the men’s exit from the building, the IDF claimed fire was directed at them.
The IDF’s statement noted, “The incident is under review by the commanders on the ground and will be transferred to the relevant professional bodies.” This incident is part of a larger pattern of violence in the region, as Israeli security forces have faced accusations of using excessive force against Palestinians since the outbreak of conflict following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.
Following the release of the video, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, praised the actions of the soldiers, declaring that they acted “exactly as they are expected to — terrorists must die!” This sentiment reflects the increasing tensions in the region amid ongoing military operations.
International and Local Reactions
The executive director of B’Tselem, Yuli Novak, condemned the killings as indicative of a broader trend of “dehumanization of Palestinians” and a troubling disregard for their lives by the Israeli government. In the West Bank’s capital, Ramallah, the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement accusing Israel of carrying out “an outright extrajudicial killing in blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
This incident occurred during a larger military operation in the northeast of the West Bank, which has seen significant detentions. According to Abdullah al-Zaghari, a spokesman for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, over 100 individuals have been detained in the town of Tubas alone since Tuesday. The IDF has characterized the ongoing operations as a response to attempts to establish “terrorist strongholds” in the area.
Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the conflict in Gaza began, with reports indicating that Israeli security forces and settlers have killed over 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023. The ongoing tension raises profound questions about the impact of military operations on civilian lives and the broader implications for peace in the region.
