Video shows Israeli troops kill Palestinians after surrender

Published: 28 November 2025 Friday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Israeli security forces have come under intense scrutiny after video emerged showing troops shooting dead two Palestinians who appeared to have surrendered during a military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. The footage, which circulated widely on social media, shows the men exiting a building with their hands raised before kneeling on the ground, surrounded by armed Israeli border police. One of them lifts his shirt to show he is unarmed.

Moments later, the men retreat back into the building. The Israeli forces then open fire, killing both. The incident occurred during one of the Israeli military’s most extensive operations in Jenin in recent months.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the incident as a “war crime,” accusing Israeli forces of carrying out “brutal field executions.” Palestinian officials say the footage clearly shows that the men were attempting to surrender, making the killings unlawful under international humanitarian norms. The PA has called for an international investigation and urged global actors to hold Israel accountable.

Israeli authorities, however, maintain that both men were “wanted individuals affiliated with a terror network.” In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli police said that the suspects had been involved in “terror activities,” including the use of explosives and gunfire against Israeli forces. According to the statement, security forces had surrounded the building for several hours while attempting to secure their surrender.

The statement added that after engineering equipment was used to breach the structure, the two suspects exited. “Following their exit, fire was directed toward the suspects,” it concluded, without providing further details about why the men were shot after appearing to surrender.

Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, publicly praised the officers, saying on X that “the fighters acted exactly as expected of them” and reiterating his long-held position that “terrorists must die.” His comments have further heightened tensions surrounding the incident, with critics accusing him of encouraging extrajudicial actions.

The raid in Jenin is part of a months-long Israeli campaign across northern West Bank cities, including Tulkarm and Tubas, targeting Palestinian armed groups that Israel says are responsible for attacks on Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers. On Wednesday, the Israeli military launched a parallel operation in the nearby city of Tubas, adding to concerns about escalating violence across the region.

The West Bank has seen a dramatic rise in violence since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which triggered the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the West Bank since then. Israel says at least 44 Israelis—including both civilians and soldiers—have been killed during the same period in Palestinian attacks or as part of Israeli operations.

Local residents in Jenin reported heavy gunfire and explosions throughout the operation, with widespread power outages and road blockages. The city, already heavily damaged by repeated incursions over the past two years, remains under heightened alert as Israeli forces continue house-to-house searches for suspected militants.

Human rights organisations have condemned the incident, calling for full transparency from Israeli authorities. International observers say the video raises serious legal questions, particularly regarding the rules of engagement and the obligations of occupying forces when dealing with surrendering individuals.

As tensions grow, the killings have amplified fears of further escalation in the West Bank, where daily confrontations between Israeli troops and Palestinian groups have become commonplace. With diplomatic efforts stalled and violence intensifying, the latest incident in Jenin underscores the deepening humanitarian and security crisis engulfing the region.