UN says Israeli forces’ killing of two West Bank Palestinians appears to be a “summary execution”
GENEVA, Nov 28 (Foxton News) — The United Nations expressed deep alarm on Friday over the deaths of two Palestinian men in the occupied West Bank, saying that preliminary information and available video footage strongly suggest the men were victims of what may amount to a summary execution carried out by Israeli security forces the previous day.
According to the UN human rights office, the incident unfolded on Thursday in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, an area that has been the focus of near-daily Israeli military operations throughout the year. Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence, addressing journalists in Geneva, said the organization was “shocked and outraged” by what it had seen and insisted that the footage raises serious concerns about the conduct of the Israeli forces involved.
Video footage prompts condemnation
The scene, recorded by Palestine TV, shows two Palestinian men emerging from a building as armed Israeli personnel stand nearby. In the video, the men raise their shirts and lie face down on the ground — actions that appear to be gestures of surrender. Moments later, Israeli forces direct the men to return inside the building. Gunfire is then heard, and the men are later seen shot.
Laurence described the visual evidence as “deeply disturbing,” stressing that nothing visible in the footage indicates the men posed any threat that would justify the use of lethal force. “We are appalled by the brazen killing by Israeli border police of two Palestinian men in Jenin,” he said, calling the act “yet another apparent summary execution” carried out in the occupied territory.
Israeli authorities announce investigation
Both the Israeli military and national police issued statements on Thursday saying that the shooting is under investigation. Their preliminary account stated that forces had opened fire on “suspects” who exited a structure where they were hiding. The officials said the two men were wanted individuals who belonged to what they termed a terrorist network, though they did not provide detailed allegations or evidence regarding the men’s activities.
Despite the launch of the probe, the footage has fueled a wave of condemnation, with human rights groups, Palestinian officials, and UN representatives demanding clarity on the rules of engagement used in the Jenin operation.
Families grieve and demand accountability
Among the two men killed was Yousef Asasa, aged 37. His older brother, Mahmoud Asasa, spoke publicly on Friday, expressing his devastation and outrage. Mahmoud described the killing as “inhumane,” emphasizing that his brother had visibly surrendered. “Someone who raises his hands can be detained,” he said. “But murdering him in such a brutal way is unacceptable.”
He urged the international community to investigate the circumstances of the shooting and to hold those responsible fully accountable. “This should not happen to anyone,” he added, calling the loss “a wound that can never heal.”
A wider pattern of raids in the northern West Bank
The incident occurred amid intensified Israeli military activity across the northern West Bank. The operation in Jenin followed another raid launched the day before in the nearby city of Tubas. Since January, Jenin, along with several surrounding towns, has experienced repeated incursions by Israeli forces, often involving gun battles, arrests, and home demolitions.
Israel says these operations target armed groups responsible for attacks on Israelis, but Palestinians and human rights organizations argue that the raids have become increasingly aggressive and deadly. Over the past year, Jenin has been one of the most volatile points of friction in the West Bank, with civilian casualties mounting and infrastructure severely damaged by military actions.
Human rights groups denounce the killings
B’Tselem, a prominent Israeli human rights organization, condemned the incident in strong terms. Shai Parnes, representing the group, said the video shows the men were unarmed and posed no danger at the time they were shot. “Everyone could see they were not a threat,” Parnes said. “The soldiers made a choice to kill them. It was an execution carried out in front of cameras.”
B’Tselem has repeatedly warned that the Israeli military’s increased reliance on lethal force in the West Bank has created a climate of impunity, where extrajudicial killings risk becoming normalized. The group has documented dozens of incidents in which Palestinians were shot under circumstances they argue did not justify deadly force.
Israeli political reaction fuels further controversy
The shooting also provoked a political response within Israel. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister, publicly defended the forces involved. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Ben-Gvir praised the security personnel and claimed they acted exactly as they should. “Terrorists should die!” he wrote, echoing a hard-line stance he has taken in past security incidents.
His remarks triggered immediate criticism from the UN. Laurence, speaking for the human rights office, described Ben-Gvir’s statement as “nothing short of abhorrent” and said such rhetoric “encourages disregard for international law.” He stressed that senior officials must not endorse unlawful killings or undermine investigations into potential human rights violations.
Rising Palestinian death toll in November
Laurence also highlighted the broader pattern of violence in the occupied territory. According to the UN human rights office’s figures, 21 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces so far in November, including nine children. The UN says the escalation of raids and confrontations has created a highly volatile and dangerous environment for civilians across the region.
The organization has repeatedly called on Israel to review its rules of engagement and ensure its forces strictly adhere to international humanitarian law. The deaths in Jenin, Laurence said, “must be investigated thoroughly, transparently, and independently,” and those found responsible “must be held to account.”
Palestinian Authority condemns the killing
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry, which represents the internationally recognized Palestinian government in parts of the West Bank, issued its own statement condemning the shooting. The ministry described the killings as a “heinous extrajudicial execution” and labeled the act a war crime. Officials called for international intervention and urged the International Criminal Court to examine the incident as part of its ongoing inquiry into potential violations in the occupied territories.
The PA argued that the Jenin operation fits a larger pattern of what it calls “systematic violence” against Palestinians, asserting that Israel’s actions undermine regional stability and violate numerous international conventions.
Growing scrutiny over Israeli operations in Jenin
The incident adds to the mounting international concern over how Israeli forces conduct operations in the densely populated cities of the northern West Bank. Jenin, with its refugee camp and history of resistance activity, has repeatedly been the site of large-scale raids, drone strikes, and armed clashes. Civilians often find themselves caught in crossfire, and local infrastructure has suffered significant damage.
Critics say that while Israel claims to be targeting militants, the scale and frequency of raids has inflicted broader suffering on the civilian population. The UN has warned that the pattern of killings and arrests risks fueling radicalization and deepening political fragmentation.
Call for impartial investigation and transparency
Human rights advocates, including both international and Israeli groups, insist that Israel’s internal investigation alone will not satisfy the need for accountability. They point out that previous inquiries have rarely led to prosecutions or meaningful disciplinary action.
Laurence reiterated the UN’s long-standing position that investigations into alleged abuses must be independent, impartial, and capable of leading to justice. In cases where domestic mechanisms fail to meet these standards, he said, the international community has a responsibility to step in.
A moment of reckoning
For many Palestinians, the killing of the two men in Jenin is yet another example of what they perceive as unchecked violence by Israeli forces. For Israelis, especially those aligned with hard-line political factions, the raid is framed as a necessary move to combat what they view as a growing militant threat. The clash of narratives underscores the deep divisions and the absence of a political horizon for resolving the long-standing conflict.
As global attention turns again to the West Bank, rights organizations warn that without accountability, transparency, and meaningful political engagement, similar incidents are likely to continue. The Jenin shooting has now become a focal point for debates over the rule of law, military conduct, and the protection of civilians in a region where violence has become all too frequent.
Looking ahead
The coming weeks are expected to bring further scrutiny as Israeli authorities proceed with their investigation and international bodies assess the implications of the incident. Whether the inquiry will lead to concrete consequences remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the deaths of the two Palestinian men have intensified calls for reform, oversight, and renewed diplomatic efforts to address the broader conflict.
For the families of the victims, the pain remains immediate and overwhelming. For the international community, the incident serves as yet another reminder of the urgent need for accountability and a long-term solution that protects civilians and upholds international law.
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