Controversial Fatal Shooting in Jenin: Israeli Forces Kill Two Palestinians Amid Surrender Claims
A deeply concerning incident transpired in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday, November 28, 2025, as Israeli security forces shot and killed two Palestinian men. Eyewitness accounts and footage from Palestine TV news strongly suggest that the men were unarmed and attempting to surrender during a military raid.
The Incident Unfolds: Allegations of Surrender Followed by Fatal Shots
The tragic event led to the deaths of 26-year-old Montasir Abdullah and 37-year-old Yusuf Asasa. Compelling footage captures the men emerging from a building surrounded by armed Israeli forces. They are seen lifting their shirts and lying on the ground, actions widely interpreted as a clear attempt to surrender. However, reports indicate that the forces then directed the men back inside the building before opening fire at close range. A Reuters journalist present at the scene corroborated observing the men appear to surrender, later hearing shots fired, and subsequently seeing Israeli forces near what appeared to be a lifeless body. The Palestinian health ministry has officially confirmed the fatalities.
Official Responses and Divergent Narratives
In the aftermath, the Israeli military and Israel Police issued a joint statement. They announced an investigation into the shooting, confirming that forces had "opened fire towards suspects who had exited a building." Notably, their statement did not explicitly mention the men's apparent surrender or the directive for them to re-enter the building. The deceased were identified as "wanted individuals" purportedly affiliated with a "terror network in the area of Jenin," though no specific charges or evidence of these links were provided. The military and police clarified that a "surrender procedure" had been initiated, lasting several hours, before "fire was directed toward the suspects." They added that the shooting is currently "under review by the commanders on the ground" and will be referred to "relevant professional bodies."
Outcry and Political Endorsement
Kamal Abu al-Rub, the Governor of Jenin, vehemently condemned the actions of the Israeli forces, labeling the killings a "cold-blooded execution" of unarmed men who had clearly surrendered. He called for strict accountability for those involved but voiced significant skepticism regarding the impartiality and thoroughness of any Israeli investigation.
Adding a layer of controversy, Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, publicly expressed his "full backing" for the military and police unit implicated in the shooting. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he controversially stated, "The fighters acted exactly as expected of them - terrorists should die!"
Wider Context: Escalating Tensions in the West Bank
This fatal raid is the latest in a series of months-long Israeli military campaigns across northern West Bank cities. Just prior to this incident, Israeli forces had launched an operation in the nearby city of Tubas. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, currently observing a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, also weighed in, condemning the Jenin killings as an "execution." Hamas urged the international community to intervene and halt what it described as Israel's "escalating field executions." The group clarified that the two men killed were not members of Hamas. This incident further highlights the volatile and deeply strained situation prevalent in the West Bank region.
