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International criticism intensified on Friday after two Palestinian terror suspects were shot dead by Israeli Border Police officers following their surrender during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.
The incident, filmed and widely shared online, has sparked a criminal investigation and renewed scrutiny over Israel’s conduct in the occupied territory.
The Department for Internal Police Investigations launched a probe into the officer involved after footage showed the men exiting a building with their hands raised before being shot.
The suspects, identified as 26-year-old Mahmoud Qassem Abdallah and 37-year-old Youssef Asasa, were wanted for alleged involvement in past bombing and shooting attacks.
Both men were claimed by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as members of its Al-Quds Brigades, with the group describing Asasa as a field commander. The IDF said the pair were part of a broader Jenin-based terror network targeted in a sweeping counter-terrorism operation.
UN officials expressed sharp condemnation, labeling the incident an “apparent summary execution.” Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the organization was “appalled,” calling the actions a brazen violation of international law.
According to an IDF–police joint statement, security forces surrounded the suspects’ hideout and attempted to negotiate their surrender for several hours. After heavy machinery was used to breach the structure, the men exited and were subsequently shot.
Border Police officers involved claimed the suspects did not follow safety instructions and moved back toward the building, prompting fears they may have been armed. “Our instructions were ignored,” officers were quoted by Army Radio as saying. “We didn’t know if they had weapons or explosives.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir publicly defended the officers, insisting they acted appropriately. “Terrorists have to die,” he posted on social media, drawing condemnation from political opponents and rights groups.
The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of deliberate extrajudicial killings, describing the incident as a “brutal field execution” and a “war crime.” PA officials said the shooting reflected growing impunity under Israel’s intensified operations across the northern West Bank.
Within Israel, Arab-majority party leader Ayman Odeh shared the video, calling it “an execution” and stating that such incidents were not isolated or accidental. He criticized the political climate enabling excessive force, citing recent attempts to expand the death penalty for Palestinian attackers.
The fatal shooting unfolded amid a large-scale IDF campaign targeting militant infrastructure in Jenin, Tubas, Tammun, and surrounding towns. Helicopter strikes supported ground forces on Thursday, though the army reported no casualties from the aerial operations.
Violence across the West Bank has surged since Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, with Palestinian fatalities surpassing 1,000, according to the PA. The IDF maintains that most deaths occurred during armed clashes or attacks against Israeli forces.
At the same time, settler violence has reached record levels. The IDF has logged more than 752 incidents so far this year, already exceeding 2024 totals and prompting international concern.
A joint statement from Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom denounced the rise in settler attacks and urged Israel to uphold international law. The European powers also called on Israel to reverse settlement expansion plans and release withheld tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority.
They warned that undermining the PA risked destabilizing the region and jeopardizing Israel’s security interests. The countries reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution.
The controversy over the Jenin raid adds to mounting diplomatic pressure on Israel as it navigates ongoing military operations and political rifts. The internal investigation into the shooting is expected to play a key role in determining whether the incident constitutes misconduct or a justified security response.
