Jenin: Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian men during a military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday, November 27. The incident has drawn renewed scrutiny of Israel’s operations in the territory.
Video footage shows the men emerging from a building with their hands raised before being instructed to return inside. Moments later, gunfire is heard and both men are fatally shot.
Watch the video here
The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the victims as 26-year-old Al-Muntasir Billah Mahmoud Qassem Abdullah and 37-year-old Youssef Ali Youssef Asasa.
Witnesses in the Jabal Abu Dhahir neighbourhood, where the raid took place, said the men had attempted to surrender and were fired on at close range. Reports also indicated that Israeli forces removed their bodies after the shooting, the Palestinian Information Centre (PIC) reported.
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli police said the two men were wanted in connection with previous attacks on Israeli troops.
According to the statement, the security forces had surrounded the building, conducted a “prolonged surrender procedure”, and used engineering tools to breach parts of the structure. It added that shots were fired after the men exited and that the incident is now under internal review.
It added that the shots were fired after the men exited, and the incident is now under internal review.
Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, publicly praised the officers involved, calling the operation decisive and describing the two men as “wanted terrorists”. His comments prompted criticism from Palestinian officials, who said his endorsement reinforced concerns over impunity within Israeli forces operating in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned what it described as a “heinous field execution”, alleging that the killings amounted to a flagrant violation of international law and human rights norms.
The raid in Jenin formed part of broader Israeli operations targeting armed groups across northern areas of the West Bank, including Tubas and surrounding villages. Israeli forces also deployed helicopters on Thursday to support ground units in ongoing search operations
Violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza.
According to UN monitors, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank during this period. Israeli authorities say dozens of Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed in attacks or security operations over the same timeframe.
