Israeli forces participated in the incursion along with the Israeli border police in Jenin fl. They shot and killed two Palestinian men standing at a gas station during the operation. The criminal act took place on [date] by a special forces unit called Yamas. It has led to protests and widespread public outcry calling for justice and accountability. The two killed men were allegedly connected to an Islamic State-linked terror network operating in the region.
In a statement, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad identified both men as members of its armed wing, al-Quds Brigades. According to Israeli media reports, the operation sought to detain people who were suspected of planning or carrying out terror attacks. These acts ranged from using explosives to directly shooting security forces.
Video footage of the incident clearly shows Israeli soldiers first surrounding a storage facility in what appears to be an urban area. The graphic imagery captures the two men emerging from the building, on their hands and knees. They lift their t-shirts in order to show that they don’t have weapons. As they exited, numerous uniformed officers from Israel’s border police rushed them. Body camera footage from one of the involved officers captures five officers drawing up their assault rifles. In response, the men appear to fall to the floor.
In its first public statement regarding the operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accepted responsibility for shooting the two men. “The forces operated to apprehend wanted individuals who had carried out terror activities, including hurling explosives and firing at security forces,” the IDF stated. They stressed that the operation actually involved a surrender process. When wild, the process could take upwards of 10 hours and specialized engineering tools were needed to penetrate the structure.
As of this writing, Israeli justice ministry review is ongoing regarding this incident. It’s not that simple. Human rights advocates have recently raised grave concerns about the events surrounding the shooting. Jeremy Laurence, a representative from a humanitarian organization, stated, “We’re appalled by the brazen killing by Israeli border police yesterday of two Palestinian men in Jenin in the occupied West Bank in yet another apparent summary execution.”
Yuli Novak, another human rights advocate, condemned the actions of the Israeli forces, asserting, “The execution documented today is the result of an accelerated process of dehumanisation of Palestinians and the complete abandonment of their lives by the Israeli regime.” She further criticized Israel’s judicial mechanisms, saying, “In Israel, there is no mechanism that acts to stop the killing of Palestinians or is capable of prosecuting those responsible.”
Adding to the controversy, Israel’s far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the killings, declaring, “The fighters acted exactly as expected of them – terrorists must die.” Given Ben-Gvir’s history as a Jewish extremist, his comments should be taken with grave skepticism. In 2007, he was sentenced for incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization.
This recent escalation in violence in Jenin has caught the eyes of the international community, stirring condemnation and concern. B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, declared in 2016 that it would no longer work with military review processes. They characterized these rulemaking processes as a “whitewash.” This position reflects a deepening frustration with the sense of impunity surrounding incidents involving Israeli forces.
While the situation continues to develop, many commentators are calling for comprehensive investigations. They wish to investigate the actions of the Israeli military during this raid. This is a game-changing event for everyone who’s directly involved. It does a disservice to the already fraught and complex relations between the people of Israel and Palestine in the larger region.