Human rights organizations and United Nations officials have condemned the killing of two Palestinian men by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank this week, describing the incident as part of a systematic policy of extrajudicial executions.

Footage from the northern West Bank city of Jenin captured Israeli soldiers shooting the men at close range as they attempted to surrender, sparking international outcry and renewed scrutiny over Israel’s military operations in Palestinian territories.

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Incident in Jenin

The victims, later identified as Al-Muntasir Billah Abdullah, 26, and Youssef Asasa, 37, were reportedly unarmed. Witnesses said the men raised their shirts to signal they posed no threat before being ordered back into a building by Israeli forces.

Video evidence shows that the two men were shot dead shortly thereafter. Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq stated:

“Evidence & footage show they were unarmed, had surrendered & posed no threat. This reflects Israel’s widespread and systematic policy of extrajudicial and willful killings across the occupied Palestinian territory.”

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Human Rights Concerns

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, condemned the incident as a “brazen killing” and an apparent summary execution. He highlighted that Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,030 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem between October 7, 2023, and November 27, 2025, including 223 children.

Laurence called for an end to impunity for unlawful use of force and escalating settler violence.

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Israel’s Response

The Israeli military stated that the incident is under review by commanders and will be passed to relevant professional bodies. However, rights groups and analysts note that Israel rarely opens criminal investigations into military killings of Palestinians, even when incidents are recorded on video.

Critics also cite remarks from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who praised the killings on social media, saying Israeli forces “acted exactly as expected of them – terrorists must die!”

Shai Parnes, outreach director at Israeli rights group B’Tselem, said:

“Israelis enjoy total impunity for violence against Palestinians. Investigations exist only to appear credible, while perpetrators are routinely shielded from accountability.”

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Broader Context

The Jenin killings occur amid a spate of Israeli attacks in the West Bank, calls by some Israeli politicians for the formal annexation of the territory, and ongoing tensions with Palestinians over settlements and security operations.

Human rights advocates argue that these actions form part of a systematic policy of extrajudicial killings. They are calling on the international community to impose sanctions and ensure accountability for unlawful killings in occupied territories.

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Key Takeaways

• Two unarmed Palestinian men were killed in Jenin while attempting to surrender.
• Footage and witness accounts suggest the killings were extrajudicial.
• Human rights groups and the UN condemned the killings as evidence of a systematic policy by Israel.
• Israel maintains the incident is under review, but accountability is widely questioned.
• The killings occur amid broader political tensions and settlement expansion in the West Bank.