A video circulating widely appears to show Israeli security forces shooting two Palestinian men moments after they had surrendered during an operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. The incident has drawn international condemnation and is reportedly under official review.
The footage, captured during an overnight raid, shows Israeli forces using heavy machinery to breach a structure. Two men are then seen crawling from the building, visibly raising their shirts to indicate they are unarmed. After being approached and ordered back toward the damaged entrance by uniformed officers, the men are shot as they attempt to comply.
A militant faction has identified the deceased as members of its armed wing. Israeli authorities stated the operation targeted individuals suspected of involvement in attacks against security forces. An official military account said the suspects exited the building after “engineering tools” were used and that “fire was directed toward the suspects” afterward, adding that the event is being examined.
However, the graphic nature of the video has prompted sharp criticism from human rights observers. A United Nations human rights office spokesperson described the killings as an “apparent summary execution,” while a leading Israeli human rights organization stated the incident reflects a “process of dehumanization.”
The episode has also ignited political debate within Israel. A senior government minister publicly defended the actions of the security personnel involved, asserting that “terrorists must die.” This stance contrasts with the military’s announcement of a procedural review.
Analysts note that such incidents rarely lead to prosecutions, with oversight mechanisms frequently criticized as ineffective. The clarity of the visual evidence in this case has brought renewed scrutiny to the conduct of operations in the occupied territories.