Human rights organizations are denouncing the fatal shooting of two Palestinian individuals in the West Bank by Israeli security forces. The incident, captured on video, showed the men seemingly surrendering and unarmed before being shot. The United Nations human rights office called for an independent investigation into the killings.
The two men, Al-Muntasir Abdullah, 26, and Yousef Asasa, 37, were reportedly unarmed and surrendering during a raid in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as shown in Palestine TV news footage. The Israeli military and police stated that they had initiated an investigation after firing towards suspects who had exited a building.
The brother of one of the deceased men expressed shock at the incident, stating that the act was brutal and unjustifiable. A militant group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, claimed that one of the men was a commander and the other a fighter.
Israeli authorities contended that the two men were wanted individuals linked to a terrorist network in the Jenin area. They did not disclose specific accusations or evidence of the alleged affiliation.
The UN expressed concern over the escalating killings of Palestinians by Israeli security forces and settlers in the West Bank, emphasizing the need for accountability and adherence to due process. The Israeli National Security Minister voiced support for the military and police unit involved in the shooting, asserting that terrorists should be eliminated.
Video footage depicted the men leaving the building, raising their shirts in surrender, and then being directed back inside before being shot. A representative from an Israeli human rights group criticized the soldiers’ actions, highlighting the need for international intervention and accountability for policymakers.
The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry condemned the shooting as an extrajudicial killing and a war crime. The incident in Jenin is part of a broader Israeli campaign in northern West Bank cities, following previous deadly clashes in the region.
The UN documented a significant number of Palestinian casualties in the West Bank and East Jerusalem at the hands of Israeli forces and settlers, including children. Calls were made for an independent investigation into the killings and holding accountable those responsible for the violations.