Incident in Jenin
During an ongoing Israeli military operation in Jenin, a city located in the West Bank, two Palestinian men were killed by Israeli security forces.
Events Leading to the Shooting
Video footage from the scene shows two Palestinian men exiting a building with their hands raised. They were then observed kneeling on the ground, with one individual lifting his shirt. Subsequently, they moved back into the building, after which Israeli Border Police opened fire.
Official Statements
A joint statement from the Israeli military (IDF) and police indicated that forces were attempting to apprehend individuals described as "wanted men affiliated with a terror network." These individuals were stated to have carried out "terror activities," including throwing explosives and firing at security forces. The statement detailed that forces surrounded the structure where the suspects were located and initiated a "surrender procedure" lasting several hours. Following the use of engineering tools on the structure, the two suspects exited, and "fire was directed toward the suspects."
Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, stated his full support for the officers involved, commenting that "terrorists must die" and that "the fighters acted exactly as expected of them."
The Palestinian Authority (PA) issued a statement accusing Israeli forces of committing a "war crime" and described the killings as "brutal field executions."
Context of Operations and Casualties
The incident is part of a months-long Israeli campaign in cities in the northern West Bank. Israel asserts these operations are necessary to address Palestinian armed groups it identifies as responsible for attacks on Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers. A similar operation was launched in the nearby city of Tubas on Wednesday.
Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which precipitated an Israeli military campaign in Gaza. According to the United Nations, Israeli troops or settlers have killed over 1,000 Palestinians, including both armed group members and civilians, in the West Bank since October 2023. Israeli figures report that at least 44 Israelis, comprising soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations within the same period. The Israeli military and police have stated that the incident in Jenin is currently under review.