Incident in West Bank: Palestinian Men Killed by Israeli Forces

A video broadcasted by Palestine TV shows two Palestinian men kneeling as they are approached by Israeli forces, moments before they were fatally shot during a military action in Jenin, West Bank, on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

On Thursday, a pair of Palestinian men were killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, reportedly after they appeared to have surrendered to the military, spurring accusations from Palestinians that the men were ‘cold-bloodedly executed.’ The Israeli defense forces have initiated a probe into the matter.

The deaths, televised on two Arab networks, coincide with Israel’s ongoing operations in the region, which have intensified over the last two years. Although Israel asserts its actions are aimed at crippling militant operatives, Palestinians and human rights organizations criticize Israel for its perceived excessive use of force, alleging many unarmed civilians have fallen victim.

Controversy Over Alleged Execution

The Israeli military and police stated that they would scrutinize the fatal shooting of these two men, executed by the border police in cooperation with military units. As reported in footage available from Palestine TV, the men are depicted emerging with hands raised and shirts lifted to signify they had no firearms. Following orders to lie down, they were kicked by police before being instructed back into the garage. Footage from Al-Ghad, an Egyptian network, shows the men on the ground encircled by soldiers. Multiple gunshots are then audible, and the men collapse motionless. A soldier is seen discharging his weapon.

Issuing a statement, the Israeli army labeled the men as sought-after militants in Jenin, citing their involvement in explosives throwing and gunfire directed at troops. Despite their surrender, a shooting ensued as they vacated the premises. The incident remains under scrutiny and awaits evaluation by the proper authorities.

Palestinians and human rights activists express skepticism about the credibility of such investigations, noting that legal repercussions for Israeli soldiers are infrequent.

Israel’s far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, applauded the military actions, insisting troops adhered to protocol with his stark proclamation that 'terrorists must die'.

Reactions from Palestinian Authorities

The Palestinian Prime Minister's office in Ramallah accused Israel of committing the killings as extrajudicial executions, branding them outright violations of international humanitarian law. They identified the deceased as Al-Muntasir Abdullah, aged 26, along with Yousef Asasa, aged 37, and emphasized that their bodies had been seized by Israeli authorities.

The case bears similarities to the 2017 Elor Azaria incident, where an Israeli soldier was convicted of manslaughter after killing a wounded Palestinian assailant, an incident that polarized Israeli public opinion. Azaria served a reduced sentence of nine months.

Israeli Raids and Military Action in the West Bank

The recent shooting forms part of an extensive military mission in the northeastern West Bank. Authorities have apprehended over 100 individuals in Tubas since Tuesday. According to military sources, this operation aims to thwart attempts at establishing terrorism centres and constructing terror infrastructures. This follows a stabbing incident on November 19, where Palestinian assailants fatally attacked an Israeli and injured several others before being neutralized.

Israel's increased West Bank presence follows hostilities initiated by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which set off renewed conflict in Gaza. The offensive arises amidst rising incidents of violence by Israeli settlers, downplayed by Israeli leaders as acts by a minor extremist group, though Palestinians argue that these attacks occur frequently near Israeli military presence and go unpunished.