Israeli forces shoot two Palestinians after surrender during raid in Jenin

JERUSALEM, WEST BANK  — Two Palestinians were filmed being shot dead by Israeli soldiers at close range after appearing to surrender during a military raid in Jenin on 27 November, in what rights groups and Palestinian authorities are calling an execution.

The two men, identified as 39-year-old Yusef ’Asa’sah and 26-year-old al-Muntaser bel-lah ‘Abdallah, were killed during an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation in the Jabal Abu Dhahir area of the northern West Bank city.

Video of the incident shows the men, who were labelled “wanted” by the Israeli military, emerging from a building with their hands raised. Soldiers surrounded them and ordered them to kneel. One of the men lifted his shirt to show he was unarmed. The soldiers then directed them back inside the structure and instructed them to sit on the ground. Moments later, they were shot at close range.

The footage shows no indication that the men posed a threat to the soldiers at the time they were shot.

In a statement following the incident, the Israeli military claimed the men had been involved in “terror activities”, including throwing explosives and firing at security forces. According to the army, a “surrender procedure” had been initiated and lasted several hours. It stated that after the suspects exited the building, “fire was directed toward the suspects”. The military says the incident is being reviewed and referred to the “relevant professional bodies”.

However, human rights groups and Palestinian officials have rejected this framing, pointing to the clear documentation of events and the apparent compliance of the victims at the time of their deaths.

A pattern of killings and impunity

Yuli Novak, Executive Director of Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, condemned the killings as a clear extrajudicial execution and part of a wider trend of systemic violence.

“The execution documented today is the result of an accelerated process of dehumanisation of Palestinians and the complete abandonment of their lives by the Israeli regime,” Novak said. “In Israel, there is no mechanism that acts to stop the killing of Palestinians or is capable of prosecuting those responsible. It is therefore the duty of the international community to end Israel’s impunity and hold accountable those responsible for planning and carrying out its criminal policies against the Palestinian people.”

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on 7 October 2023, violence in the West Bank has surged. According to the Palestinian health ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank during this period. This figure includes both combatants and civilians.

The perpetrators, whether soldiers or settlers, are rarely prosecuted. Rights groups have long criticised Israel’s legal system for enabling systemic impunity, even in cases of apparent unlawful killings.

Official Israeli response and political support

While the military has confirmed a review of the incident, political leaders have already expressed support for the forces involved. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right figure in the Israeli cabinet, wrote on X that the soldiers “acted exactly as expected”, adding, “Terrorists must die!”

His statement has drawn strong condemnation from Palestinian officials and human rights defenders, who say such rhetoric encourages violations of international law and undermines any prospects for accountability.

The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry called the incident a “brutal field execution” and “a deliberate Israeli war crime”, urging the international community to act immediately to stop “the Israeli killing machine”.

Broader military campaign and rising tensions

The raid in Jenin is part of a wider Israeli military campaign targeting Palestinian armed groups in the northern West Bank. Nearby cities such as Tubas have also been the focus of intensified operations. On 27 November, Israeli forces reportedly detained over 100 individuals in Tubas alone.

Israeli officials claim these operations are necessary to prevent attacks on soldiers and settlers, citing recent incidents such as a fatal stabbing on 19 November. However, critics argue that the scope and conduct of the raids often result in civilian harm and are contributing to rising instability across the region.

Tensions are further inflamed by the ongoing war in Gaza and intermittent clashes along the northern border with Lebanon. The killing of ’Asa’sah and ‘Abdallah risks deepening the cycle of violence and eroding prospects for de-escalation in the occupied territories.

As of now, the bodies of the two men remain in Israeli custody. Palestinian leaders have demanded their immediate return.