Two Palestinians Killed by Israeli Forces in Jenin After Apparent Surrender, Sparking Outcry

Jenin, West Bank – Two Palestinian men were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the Jabal Abu Dhahir area of Jenin on Thursday, November 27, following what appeared to be their surrender, an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation and prompted an Israeli military review. Videos circulating on social media and broadcast by news channels reportedly show the two men, identified as Yussef Ali Asa'sa (37) and Al-Muntasir Billah Mahmud Abdullah (26), emerging from a building with their hands raised before shots were fired.

The incident occurred at approximately 32.454360, 35.297587, a geolocation shared by Chris Osieck on social media. The Palestinian Authority's health ministry confirmed the deaths, stating that the men were "shot dead by Israeli forces" and their bodies were subsequently withheld. Ramallah's foreign ministry condemned the killings as a "brutal field execution" and a "deliberate Israeli war crime," urging immediate international action.

The Israeli military and police issued a joint statement acknowledging an incident in which "wanted individuals who had carried out terror activities" were apprehended. They stated that forces initiated a surrender procedure lasting several hours, and "following their exit, fire was directed toward the suspects." The incident is currently "under review by the commanders on the ground" and will be transferred to "relevant professional bodies."

Despite the ongoing review, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir publicly supported the forces involved, stating on X, "I fully support the border guard members and Israeli army soldiers who shot at wanted terrorists who emerged from a building in Jenin... The forces acted exactly as expected of them – terrorists must die!" Conversely, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem asserted the men were killed "while posing no threat," calling it an "execution documented today [that] is the result of an accelerated process of dehumanisation of Palestinians."

The killings come amid a significant escalation of violence in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, a known stronghold for Palestinian armed groups. Violence has surged since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank since the conflict began, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures.