Daijiworld Media Network - Jenin
Jenin, Nov 28: Tension soared in the occupied West Bank after two Palestinian men were shot dead during what Israeli authorities described as a “surrender procedure,” triggering sharp condemnation from the Palestinian Authority and calls for a full investigation.
The deceased were identified as 26-year-old Al-Muntasir Mahmoud Qassem Abdullah and 37-year-old Youssef Ali Youssef Asasa, according to the West Bank’s General Authority for Civil Affairs. The Authority denounced the killings as “a fully-fledged war crime and a blatant violation of international laws and humanitarian values.”
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Police claimed the men were wanted for alleged terror-related activities and belonged to a “terrorist organization operating in Jenin.” The security forces said the operation involved border police and lasted several hours, during which the suspects reportedly hurled explosive devices and fired at officers.
As the standoff stretched on, an engineering vehicle was deployed, after which the two men emerged from the building. The IDF statement admitted that gunfire was subsequently directed at them.
A widely circulated video on social media shows the pair stepping out with their hands raised, surrounded by soldiers. Moments later, multiple gunshots are heard, and one of the bodies is seen lying on the ground at the building’s entrance, fueling intense debate and outrage online.
The IDF said field commanders are currently reviewing the incident, and the findings will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
The shooting comes amid a broader Israeli military operation launched on Wednesday across the West Bank. According to the IDF, forces searched over 220 locations, questioned dozens, and arrested multiple suspects.
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir openly praised the forces involved. “I fully back the Border Police fighters and IDF soldiers who fired at wanted terrorists… Terrorists must die!” he wrote on social media, further heightening political tensions around the incident.
The atmosphere in Jenin and across the West Bank remains volatile as investigations continue and international observers call for restraint.