Israeli soldiers have shot and killed two Palestinian men during a raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, despite the men reportedly attempting to surrender. Video recordings and eyewitness accounts indicate that the pair had raised their shirts to show they were unarmed before being ordered back into a building—moments before they were fatally shot.
Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh said journalists in Jenin witnessed the men showing they carried no weapons. “They were told to go back into the building, and then they were shot. They were executed,” she explained from Ramallah.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victims as 26-year-old Al-Muntasir Billah Abdullah and 37-year-old Youssef Asasa.
The Israeli military said its forces were pursuing “wanted individuals affiliated with a terror network” and had carried out a “surrender procedure that lasted several hours”. According to their statement, soldiers opened fire after the men exited the building. The army said the incident is under review.
However, Odeh noted that internal Israeli reviews “rarely lead to indictments or criminal investigations”.
Palestinian Response
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the incident as “heinous extrajudicial killings” and a “deliberate war crime”. It urged the international community to intervene immediately, calling for the deployment of UN protection forces to safeguard civilians.
Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative, described the event as a “shocking crime”, saying the two men were executed in front of cameras after surrendering.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the killings, writing that Israeli forces “acted exactly as expected—terrorists must die”.
Escalating Violence in the West Bank
Ongoing Military Raids
The deadly shooting comes as Israel continues large-scale raids across the northern West Bank, deploying attack helicopters and drones for the second consecutive day. Israeli forces remain positioned in the northeastern Tubas governorate after launching a major operation on Wednesday.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that at least 25 Palestinians have been injured and around 100 detained since the operation began.
Israel says it is targeting armed groups. Residents, however, report indiscriminate attacks on civilians, restricted movement for ambulances and journalists, and severe damage to infrastructure.
Wider Human Rights Concerns
The occupied West Bank has seen a surge in Israeli military and settler violence amid Israel’s war on Gaza. UN experts and major human rights groups say Palestinians are experiencing systematic abuses that amount to ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Human Rights Watch recently stated that the forced displacement of Palestinians from refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity.
UN and Rights Groups Respond
Daily Raids Intensify
According to Odeh, Israeli military raids across Palestinian communities have doubled over the past two years, now averaging 47 raids per day. Many civilians—including an 85-year-old man—have reported being beaten by soldiers during these operations.
Demolitions and Displacement
UNRWA representative Roland Friedrich said Israel continues to issue demolition orders in Jenin refugee camp despite widespread destruction last year. Twelve buildings are set for full demolition this week, with another 11 to be partially destroyed. More than 200 structures in the camp have had demolition orders since February.
“This systematic destruction violates international law and seeks to tighten long-term control over the camps,” Friedrich said.
Amnesty International’s Statement
Amnesty International said the intensifying raids reflect “Israel’s cruel system of apartheid” and urged global actors to take immediate steps to end Israel’s unlawful occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.