• Footage shows two men emerging with hands raised before being shot
  • Israeli military confirms shooting occurred, says incident under investigation
  • UN human rights office calls killings "apparent summary execution"

JENIN, West Bank (TDR) — Video footage circulated Thursday showing Israeli security forces shooting two Palestinian men moments after they appeared to surrender during a military operation in Jenin, prompting investigations by Israeli authorities and condemnation from the United Nations and Palestinian officials.

The footage, filmed by Palestine TV and distributed by Reuters, shows two men exiting a building with their hands raised, lifting their shirts in what appeared to be an effort to show they were unarmed. Israeli personnel can be seen kicking the men before directing them back into the building, where gunfire is then heard.

Conflicting accounts

The Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Police issued a joint statement acknowledging that "fire was directed toward the suspects" after they exited the building. The statement said the two men were wanted individuals who had "carried out terror activities, including hurling explosives and firing at security forces."

According to military officials, the operation included a surrender procedure lasting several hours before engineering equipment was used on the structure and the men emerged.

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The Palestinian Health Ministry identified those killed as Al-Muntasir Billah Abdullah, 26, and Yousef Asasa, 37. Palestinian Islamic Jihad later claimed both men as members of its military wing, identifying Asasa as a "field commander."

"The forces entered the area, enclosed the structure in which the suspects were located, and initiated a surrender procedure that lasted several hours. Following their exit, fire was directed toward the suspects."

Investigations opened

Israel's Justice Ministry Department for Internal Police Investigations opened a criminal investigation into a Border Police officer involved in the incident. The IDF stated the matter would be transferred to "relevant professional bodies."

Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem shared the footage, with executive director Yuli Novak describing the incident as "the direct result of an accelerated process of dehumanization of Palestinians and the complete abandonment of their lives by the Israeli regime."

International response

UN human rights office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence stated Friday that officials were "appalled by the brazen killing" and called it "yet another apparent summary execution." He said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk was calling for "independent, prompt and effective investigations."

"We're appalled by the brazen killing by Israeli border police yesterday of two Palestinian men in Jenin in the occupied West Bank in yet another apparent summary execution."

The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of executing the men "in cold blood," calling the shooting "an outright extrajudicial killing in blatant violation of international humanitarian law."

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the officers, writing on social media: "The fighters acted exactly as expected of them—terrorists must die."

Broader context

The incident occurred amid intensified Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israeli security forces and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023, including 223 children.

Palestinians and human rights organizations have stated that investigations into such incidents rarely result in prosecution. The case is reminiscent of the 2017 conviction of soldier Elor Azaria for manslaughter after fatally shooting an already-wounded Palestinian attacker—a case that divided Israeli society.

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