Israel, police probe Border Police killing of 2 Palestinians in Jenin caught on video; Ben-Gvir praises
Video from Jenin in the occupied West Bank shows two Palestinian men—identified by Palestinian authorities and rights groups as Yousef Asasa and Al‑Muntasir Billah Abdullah—appearing to surrender (raising hands, lifting shirts and kneeling) before members of an Israeli Border Police unit kicked them and then shot and killed them. Israel’s military, the national police and the Justice Ministry’s police‑misconduct investigators have opened probes after the IDF and police acknowledged “fire was directed toward the suspects,” saying they were wanted militants and referring the case to professional bodies; National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir praised the forces while Palestinian authorities condemned the killings as extrajudicial.
📌 Key Facts
- Video footage broadcast from two angles shows two Palestinian men raising their hands and lifting their shirts, being ordered to the ground, kicked and moved back and forth, then shots are heard while at least one soldier fires as the men are on the ground; forces continued shooting into a garage afterward.
- The shooters were members of an Israeli Border Police unit; both the Israeli military (IDF) and the national police have opened investigations and Israel’s Department of Investigations of Police Misconduct (Justice Ministry) is also investigating or has been notified that the case will be referred to relevant professional bodies.
- The IDF said the men were 'wanted militants' who had thrown explosives and fired at troops, that 'fire was directed toward the suspects' after they exited the building, and that commanders reviewed the shooting before sending it to professional bodies.
- Rights groups and Palestinian authorities identified the dead as Yousef Asasa (reported in sources as 37 or 39) and Al‑Muntasir Billah Abdullah (26); Islamic Jihad said both were members of its military wing, while the Palestinian Authority condemned the shooting as an 'outright extrajudicial killing' in violation of international humanitarian law.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir publicly praised the forces involved, saying 'terrorists must die!'
- The IDF told CBS that the 'surrender procedure' lasted several hours and that engineering tools were used on the structure before the men exited.
- The incident took place amid broader West Bank operations: advocacy groups say more than 100 people have been detained since Tuesday in Tubas as part of the wider security actions.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, 81 Israelis were killed in terror attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including 68 civilians and 13 IDF soldiers.
Summary of Terror Attacks in Israel and the West Bank, 2023–2024 — Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
Since October 7, 2023, the IDF has killed more than 700 terrorists in the northern West Bank, including 36 senior operatives from various terror groups.
3 months into major Jenin operation, IDF signals gains as residents face ruin — The Times of Israel
Since 7 October 2023, 1,001 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, one in five of whom is a child including 206 boys and 7 girls; the number also includes 20 women and at least 7 persons with disabilities.
1001 Palestinians killed in West Bank since 7 October 2023 - one in five a child — United Nations
According to Shin Bet data, there were 6,828 terror attacks carried out in the West Bank and Jerusalem in 2024, including stone-throwing and firebombing, compared to 3,550 in 2023.
Summary of Terror Attacks in Israel and the West Bank, 2023–2024 — Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
📰 Sources (4)
- Israel’s Department of Investigations of Police Misconduct (Justice Ministry) is investigating; spokesman Eitan Ilan confirmed the probe.
- A joint IDF–Police statement acknowledged that “fire was directed toward the suspects” and said the shooting was reviewed by commanders and sent to “relevant professional bodies.”
- Palestinian authorities identified the dead as Al‑Muntasir Billah Abdullah (26) and Yousef Asasa (37); Islamic Jihad said both were members of its military wing.
- Additional video details: the men lifted shirts, knelt with hands raised, were kicked back toward a garage, and forces continued shooting into the garage afterward.
- B'Tselem identified the two men killed as Yusef 'Asa'sah, 39, and al-Muntaser bel-lah 'Abdallah, 26.
- IDF told CBS the 'surrender procedure' lasted several hours and that 'engineering tools' were used on the structure before the men exited.
- IDF statement: 'Following their exit, fire was directed toward the suspects,' with the incident under review by commanders and to be transferred to professional bodies.
- Palestinian Authority condemned the shooting as an 'outright extrajudicial killing' violating international humanitarian law.
- Context update: advocacy group says more than 100 people have been detained since Tuesday in Tubas as part of broader West Bank operations.
- Both the Israeli military and the national police said they opened an investigation; the shooters were members of the Border Police unit.
- Detailed sequence from two broadcast videos: the men raised hands and lifted shirts, were ordered to the ground, kicked, moved back and forth, then shots were heard as at least one soldier fired while the men were on the ground.
- IDF statement: the men were 'wanted militants' who had thrown explosives and fired at troops; after they surrendered and exited the building, 'fire was directed toward the suspects,' and the case will be referred to 'relevant professional bodies.'
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly praised the forces, saying 'terrorists must die!'