On Nov. 27, 2025, human rights organization B’Tselem released a video it says shows Israeli soldiers shooting two Palestinian men who surrendered during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. The men were later identified by B’Tselem as Yusef ‘Asa’sah, 39, and al-Muntaser bel-lah ‘Abdallah, 26; CBS News has not independently verified the footage, which B’Tselem credited to Palestine TV. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged an operation that day, said the suspects were wanted and had carried out attacks, and said the incident is under review by commanders and professional bodies. Palestinian officials accused Israel of extrajudicial killing, while Israeli hard-line politicians praised the forces.
Key Takeaways
- The incident took place on Nov. 27, 2025, during an IDF operation in Jenin in the occupied West Bank.
- B’Tselem published video footage credited to Palestine TV that it says shows two men surrendering and then being shot; CBS has not independently verified the video.
- B’Tselem identified the dead as Yusef ‘Asa’sah, 39, and al-Muntaser bel-lah ‘Abdallah, 26; the IDF says both were wanted for carrying out attacks including throwing explosives and firing at security forces.
- The IDF said it conducted a prolonged surrender procedure, used engineering tools on the structure, the suspects exited, and fire was then directed at them; the military says the event is under review.
- Palestinian authorities called the killings an “extrajudicial” execution; Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the troops, saying “terrorists must die.”
- The larger West Bank operation has resulted in more than 100 detentions in Tubas since Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.
- B’Tselem reports that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 2023 amid the wider Gaza war context.
Background
The Jenin raid occurred against a backdrop of elevated violence across the occupied Palestinian territories since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. Israeli security forces have intensified operations in the West Bank, citing efforts to dismantle armed networks and alleged terror infrastructures. Palestinian civilians, local authorities and numerous rights groups have accused Israeli forces and some settlers of excessive and lethal force during these operations, raising legal and humanitarian concerns.
Jenin has long been a focal point for Israeli-Palestinian confrontations and counterterrorism operations because of armed groups operating in the area. The IDF characterized the Nov. 27 action as an operation to apprehend wanted suspects who had allegedly carried out attacks including stabbings and shootings; an earlier stabbing on Nov. 19 left one Israeli dead and three wounded. The political environment in Israel, including statements from far-right figures who oversee security agencies, has heightened tensions over operational rules of engagement and accountability.
Main Event
B’Tselem posted a clip it attributes to Palestine TV that shows two men emerging from a garage-style opening with hands raised; they lift their shirts to show they are unarmed and kneel as Israeli soldiers approach. In the footage, one soldier appears to kick a man, and the two then move back into the building through the open door, apparently following orders. Gunfire is audible shortly afterward; one man visible in the doorway slumps to the floor.
Following publication of the video, the IDF confirmed it conducted an operation in Jenin on Nov. 27 and said the men had been wanted for “terror activities, including hurling explosives and firing at security forces.” The military statement said forces “enclosed the structure,” initiated a surrender procedure that lasted several hours, used engineering tools on the structure, and that, after the suspects exited, fire was directed toward them. The IDF added commanders on the ground are reviewing the incident and will pass it to the relevant professional bodies.
The sequence shown in the shared footage, the precise timing of shots and whether the military perceived an immediate operational threat at the moment of firing remain points of dispute. Local Palestinians and officials in Ramallah described the deaths as a cold-blooded execution; Israeli authorities assert a security rationale and have launched an internal review. Media outlets credit the visual material to Palestine TV; independent forensic verification has not been published at the time of this report.
Analysis & Implications
If verified, the footage would raise serious legal and operational questions about the IDF’s handling of detainees and the rules of engagement applied in dense urban settings. Under international humanitarian and human rights law, use of lethal force against persons who have clearly surrendered is prohibited; states typically investigate such incidents to determine criminal or disciplinary responsibility. An internal military review can lead to different outcomes — from exoneration to criminal referral — depending on evidence and chain-of-command findings.
Domestically, the episode deepens polarization inside Israel and the occupied territories. Hard-line political voices praising troops may bolster public support for aggressive counterinsurgency measures, while rights groups’ allegations of summary executions could increase international scrutiny and pressure on Israeli institutions to demonstrate credible, transparent investigations. For Palestinians, the incident is likely to intensify anger and could fuel further unrest in the West Bank, complicating stabilization efforts.
Regionally and diplomatically, sustained reports of lethal incidents in the West Bank since Oct. 2023 have the potential to strain Israel’s relationships with Western partners and human rights bodies, particularly if independent investigations corroborate allegations of unlawful killings. Conversely, if the IDF’s review produces evidence that the soldiers acted lawfully under imminent threat, Israeli authorities will present that finding to counter accusations. Either result will shape narratives about accountability and the conduct of security operations going forward.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in this incident | 2 | Identified by B’Tselem: Y. ‘Asa’sah (39), A. bel-lah ‘Abdallah (26) |
| Detentions in Tubas (since Tue.) | >100 | Reported by Palestinian Prisoners’ Club spokesman Abdullah al-Zaghari |
| West Bank deaths since Oct. 2023 | >1,000 | B’Tselem figure cited in reporting |
The table summarizes three figures cited in public statements and reporting: the two fatalities in the Jenin event, the large number of detentions in nearby Tubas, and B’Tselem’s tally of West Bank deaths since Oct. 2023. These numbers come from different sources and methodologies: incident counts are event-based, detention totals are reported by local advocacy groups, and cumulative casualty figures reflect NGO monitoring; each requires source-specific scrutiny when used for legal or policy analysis.
Reactions & Quotes
Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the national police, publicly praised the forces after the video emerged, framing the operation in security terms and signaling political backing for tough measures. That endorsement is likely to influence how the events are discussed domestically and may affect the tenor of internal reviews.
“They acted exactly as they are expected to — terrorists must die!”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli national security minister
B’Tselem’s executive director framed the killings as part of a broader trend in which Palestinians’ lives are devalued, a characterization intended to highlight systemic patterns rather than a single isolated event. Palestinian officials in Ramallah described the killings as an extrajudicial execution, calling for accountability under international law.
“An accelerated process of dehumanization of Palestinians and the complete abandonment of their lives by the Israeli regime.”
Yuli Novak, executive director, B’Tselem
“Executed in cold blood,”
Office of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (statement)
Unconfirmed
- Independent forensic confirmation of the provenance and full, unedited chain-of-custody of the video credited to Palestine TV has not been publicly released.
- Whether explicit orders to shoot were given by a commanding officer at the moment of the firing remains unconfirmed pending investigation records.
- The IDF’s assertion that the suspects had recently carried out specific terror activities is supported by the military’s public statement but has not been independently corroborated in open-source documentation available at time of reporting.
Bottom Line
The footage released by B’Tselem, if authenticated, would raise grave questions about the application of lethal force against individuals who appear to surrender. The IDF has opened an internal review, a standard first step that may or may not lead to wider transparency or external oversight; outcomes will shape perceptions of accountability. For observers, the most important near-term indicators will be whether independent forensic analysis of the footage is made public, whether the military review is transparent and timely, and whether findings are followed by disciplinary or criminal processes if warranted.
Meanwhile, the incident is likely to amplify tensions in the West Bank, influence international scrutiny of Israeli operations there, and affect domestic debates in Israel over force, command responsibility and the balance between security and legal obligations. Readers should watch for additional primary-source releases — full video, forensic reports, and the IDF’s review findings — to move from competing narratives toward a clearer factual record.
Sources
- CBS News (media report citing B’Tselem and IDF statements)
- B’Tselem (rights group statement and video release)
- Israel Defense Forces (official military statements and reviews)