Geneva – The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed its shock following the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. The UN is raising concerns that the incident may constitute an extrajudicial execution.
Speaking at a UN press briefing in Geneva on Friday, spokesperson Jeremy Laurence stated, “We are appalled by the apparent extrajudicial killing of two Palestinian men in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, yesterday by Israeli forces.”
The killings, which occurred on Thursday in the city of Jenin, have sparked outrage among Palestinians and calls for an international investigation. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the two men, identified as Al-Muntasir Billah Mahmoud Qassem Abdullah, 26, and Youssef Ali Youssef Asasa, 37, were killed in the Jabal Abu Dhahir area of Jenin. Their bodies are reportedly being held by Israeli authorities.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show the two unarmed men surrendering before being ordered to return in the direction they came from, and then being shot. The area was then allegedly bulldozed.
The incident occurred amidst ongoing Israeli military operations in the Jenin and Tubas governorates in the northern West Bank, which began on Wednesday.
The Israeli military has stated that it has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of the two Palestinian men in Jenin. The army claims its soldiers opened fire from close range, on two Palestinian men despite their surrender.
According to official Palestinian figures, Israeli actions in the West Bank, including those by both the army and settlers, have resulted in the deaths of over 1,085 Palestinians, with approximately 11,000 injured and over 20,500 arrested since the start of the war two years ago.
