Israeli Forces Investigated After Two Men Shot in Jenin Following Apparent Surrender

Israeli authorities are investigating an incident in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin in which two men were shot and killed after appearing to surrender during a large-scale military operation. Palestinian officials called the killings a "fully-fledged war crime," while Israeli security forces say the case is under review by internal investigators.

What happened

The incident occurred during a widescale counterterrorism operation in Jenin. Palestinian officials identified the deceased as 26-year-old Al-Muntasir Mahmoud Qassem Abdullah and 37-year-old Youssef Ali Youssef Asasa. Video circulated on social media shows two men emerging from a building with their hands raised above their heads and surrounded by personnel who appear to be Israeli soldiers; the footage later shows the men on the ground and multiple shots being fired.

Claims and responses

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) described the men as fighters who had exchanged fire with Israeli forces until they ran out of ammunition and were subsequently surrounded and killed in what PIJ called a "field execution." The Palestinian Authority condemned the killings as a "flagrant violation of all international laws, conventions, norms, and humanitarian values."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the two individuals were wanted for alleged terror activity, accusing them of throwing explosive devices and firing at security forces. The IDF stated that a surrender procedure lasted several hours and that the men exited a building after an engineering vehicle was used; the statement said that after they exited, gunfire was directed at the wanted individuals. The military added that field commanders are investigating and that the matter will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further review.

A lawyer representing three Border Police personnel involved said his clients were questioned by the State Attorney's department of internal police investigations and were later released on bail. He told investigators his clients believed their lives were in danger, and that the officers had ordered the men to remove clothing to confirm they were unarmed but that they did not comply. He characterized the shooting as aimed at "neutralizing" perceived threats rather than to kill.

International reaction and wider context

The United Nations human rights office said it was "appalled by the brazen killing," describing the incident as a "summary execution." A UN spokesperson said their office had verified 1,030 Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between 7 October 2023 and 27 November, among them 223 children.

Israel's National Security Minister publicly praised the forces involved, saying he backed the Border Police and IDF soldiers who fired at the wanted individuals.

Current status

Internal military and police investigations are ongoing. Palestinian officials and rights groups are calling for independent accountability and international scrutiny. The available video and witness accounts have intensified demands for a transparent, impartial review of the circumstances that led to the killings.