Two Palestinians shot dead during Israeli West Bank raid

Two Palestinians shot dead during Israeli West Bank raid
Reuters

Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in the West Bank during a raid, despite the men appearing to surrender and being unarmed.

The men were seen leaving a building surrounded by Israeli forces, lifting their shirts and lying on the ground in apparent surrender, before being reportedly directed back inside and shot at close range.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that 26-year-old Montasir Abdullah and 37-year-old Yusuf Asasa were killed in the incident.

The Israeli military and police issued a joint statement saying an investigation had been launched after firing on the individuals. The statement did not explain why the shooting occurred, nor did it mention that the men had lain on the ground before being sent back inside.

Military and police officials said the operation in the Jenin area targeted individuals wanted for “illegal activities, including throwing explosives and firing at security forces.” The two men were reportedly linked to an “illegal group” in Jenin, though no charges or evidence were disclosed.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir later expressed full support for the military and police units involved in the shooting.

The Jenin raid is the latest in a series of Israeli operations across northern West Bank cities. On Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out an operation in the nearby city of Tubas.

Palestinian armed group Hamas, which agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza last month, condemned the killings in Jenin as “executions” and called on the international community to halt what it described as Israel’s “escalating field executions.” The group did not claim the two men as members.

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