Video shows Israeli soldiers execute 2 Palestinians as they surrender in West Bank raid, rights group says
A chilling video released on Thursday by the prominent Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem purports to show Israeli soldiers executing two Palestinian men after they had clearly surrendered during a raid in Jenin, a volatile city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The footage, which has sent shockwaves through the region and drawn immediate condemnation, raises grave questions about Israeli military conduct and adherence to international law amidst the escalating conflict.
The video, attributed by B’Tselem to Palestine TV, depicts a sequence of events that appears to contradict established rules of engagement and the protections afforded to individuals attempting to surrender. While CBS News has not independently verified the footage, its contents are deeply disturbing. It shows Israeli soldiers surrounding a garage-style entrance to a building. Two men subsequently emerge from the structure, their hands raised high in the air in a clear gesture of surrender. They are seen lifting their shirts, a common action to demonstrate they are not carrying explosives, and then kneeling on the ground as the armed soldiers approach.
The situation takes a turn for the worse when one of the soldiers is seen kicking one of the kneeling men. Following this, both men are observed moving back into the building through the large open doorway, ostensibly under the orders of the soldiers. Moments later, the sound of gunshots rings out. One of the men, still partially visible in the doorway, is then seen slumping to the floor, indicating he has been shot. The precise actions of the soldiers inside the building immediately after the men re-entered are not fully visible in the footage, but the outcome is fatal.
B’Tselem, a leading Israeli organization dedicated to documenting human rights violations in the Palestinian territories, identified the two deceased men as Yusef ‘Asa’sah, 39, and al-Muntaser bel-lah ‘Abdallah, 26. The group stated that both individuals were wanted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a detail that, if confirmed, does not diminish the protections afforded to them under international humanitarian law once they attempt to surrender. The incident underscores the extreme tension and often lethal consequences of military operations in the West Bank, particularly in areas like Jenin, which are frequently targeted by Israeli forces.
The Israeli military acknowledged an operation in Jenin on Thursday aimed at apprehending wanted individuals. In a statement shared with CBS News, the IDF confirmed that the men had "carried out terror activities, including hurling explosives and firing at security forces." Describing their version of events, the IDF stated: "The forces entered the area, enclosed the structure in which the suspects were located, and initiated a surrender procedure that lasted several hours. Following the use of engineering tools on the structure, the two suspects exited. Following their exit, fire was directed toward the suspects." The IDF concluded its statement by saying, "The incident is under review by the commanders on the ground, and will be transferred to the relevant professional bodies." This commitment to review, however, is often met with skepticism by human rights groups, who frequently criticize the lack of transparency and accountability in military investigations.
The incident comes against a backdrop of severely escalating violence in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack that sparked the war in Gaza. Israeli security forces have been repeatedly accused by human rights organizations of using excessive, and often lethal, force against Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank. These accusations include instances of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and collective punishment, further fueling the cycle of violence and resentment. The context of the West Bank, occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War, is one of ongoing military control, settlement expansion, and frequent confrontations between Israeli forces, settlers, and Palestinians. Jenin, in particular, has long been a flashpoint, known for its refugee camp and as a stronghold for various Palestinian armed factions, making it a frequent target for Israeli military raids.
The political reaction to the video was swift and stark. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the national police and holds significant sway in the current government, openly praised the Israeli forces involved in the incident. In a statement reflecting his hardline stance, Ben-Gvir asserted that the soldiers acted "exactly as they are expected to — terrorists must die!" This comment from a high-ranking government official immediately drew widespread condemnation, as it appears to endorse extrajudicial killings and contradicts international legal norms regarding the treatment of detainees or those attempting to surrender. Critics argue that such rhetoric contributes to an environment where military personnel might feel emboldened to disregard rules of engagement.
Conversely, Yuli Novak, the executive director of B’Tselem, articulated the human rights group’s profound concern. Novak described the killings as the result of "an accelerated process of dehumanization of Palestinians and the complete abandonment of their lives by the Israeli regime." This powerful statement highlights the group’s view that the incident is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of a broader policy and cultural shift that devalues Palestinian lives and erodes legal and ethical boundaries. The concept of dehumanization is central to understanding how such alleged acts of violence can occur, as it can pave the way for a disregard of fundamental human rights.
From the Palestinian side, the office of Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, based in Ramallah, the West Bank’s capital, issued a vehement condemnation. The statement accused Israel of executing the two men "in cold blood," labeling the shooting as "an outright extrajudicial killing in blatant violation of international humanitarian law." This strong language reflects the deep anger and frustration within the Palestinian leadership and population over what they perceive as systemic abuses and a lack of international protection. Such incidents further erode any remaining trust in a potential peace process and exacerbate calls for international intervention and accountability.
The shooting in Jenin occurred amidst a larger Israeli military operation across the northeast of the West Bank. This operation has seen an intensified crackdown, with more than 100 people reportedly detained since Tuesday in the town of Tubas alone, according to Abdullah al-Zaghari, a spokesman for the advocacy group Palestinian Prisoners’ Club. The IDF has justified these ongoing operations as a response to "attempts to establish terrorist strongholds and construction of terror infrastructures in the area." However, human rights groups argue that such broad operations often result in collective punishment and disproportionate force against the civilian population.
The surge in violence across the West Bank is a significant concern. On November 19, for instance, Palestinian attackers reportedly stabbed an Israeli to death and wounded three others at a West Bank intersection before being shot by security forces. This incident, like many others, illustrates the daily dangers and the cycle of violence that characterizes life in the occupied territories. Despite a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli raids and confrontations in the West Bank have continued unabated, indicating that the conflict is far from contained to the Gaza Strip.
According to B’Tselem’s extensive documentation, Israeli security forces and settlers have been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank alone since October 2023. This staggering figure underscores the severe human cost of the ongoing occupation and the current intensification of hostilities. The high death toll points to a critical situation that demands urgent international attention and robust mechanisms for accountability. International humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, strictly prohibits the killing of individuals who have surrendered or are otherwise hors de combat. If the allegations made by B’Tselem are proven true, this incident would represent a clear violation of these fundamental principles, potentially constituting a war crime. The international community often calls for independent investigations into such incidents, but enforcement and accountability remain persistent challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Jenin video serves as a stark reminder of the brutal realities on the ground and the urgent need for adherence to international law and protection of human rights.
