Lead: On Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian men in the occupied West Bank town of Jenin after video shows them leaving a building with their hands raised, drawing accusations from Palestinian officials that the pair were executed after surrendering. The Israeli military and national police said they have opened an investigation into the incident and that it is under review by professional bodies. Palestinian authorities identified the men as Al-Muntasir Abdullah, 26, and Yousef Asasa, 37, and said Israeli forces removed their bodies. The shooting occurred amid an expanded Israeli operation in the northeastern West Bank and broader regional tensions, including fresh Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.
Key takeaways
- Two Palestinian men were killed on Nov. 27, 2025, in Jenin after video footage shows them exiting a garage with hands raised, then being shot; the victims are named as Al-Muntasir Abdullah (26) and Yousef Asasa (37).
- The Israeli military said the men were wanted militants who had allegedly thrown explosives and fired at troops; it stated that “fire was directed toward the suspects” and that the case is under review.
- Videos broadcast on Palestine TV and Egyptian station Al-Ghad show the men surrendering and later collapsing after gunfire; at least one soldier is seen firing in the footage.
- More than 100 people have been detained in nearby Tubas during an operation that began Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club spokesman Abdullah al-Zaghari.
- The incident follows a pattern of intensified Israeli West Bank operations since Oct. 7, 2023; rights groups allege increased civilian casualties and excessive force during raids.
- Separately, Israel carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Nov. 27, 2025, and the U.N. has reported at least 127 civilians killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect one year earlier.
Background
Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the Gaza war, Israel has significantly expanded security operations in the West Bank, targeting individuals and infrastructure it says are connected to militancy. Those operations have included frequent raids, arrests and curfews in towns such as Jenin and Tubas, producing regular confrontations with residents and armed groups. Palestinian authorities, rights organizations and international observers have repeatedly raised concerns about the use of lethal force during raids and the treatment of detainees, saying investigations rarely lead to prosecution.
The West Bank escalation sits alongside intermittent cross-border violence with Lebanon and Gaza. Israel has carried out strikes in southern Lebanon in recent days aimed at degrading Hezbollah-linked capabilities, and the U.N. reports civilian casualties tied to those strikes since the ceasefire a year ago. Domestic politics in Israel — including vocal support for hardline security measures from figures such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — shape operational conduct and responses to incidents, complicating prospects for independent review and accountability.
Main event
Video shared by regional broadcasters shows two men emerging from a garage in Jenin with raised hands and lifting their shirts, apparently to demonstrate they were not carrying explosive devices. They are ordered to the ground, kicked by at least one officer, then directed back toward the garage. In a separate clip, the men are at the garage entrance surrounded by troops when gunshots ring out and the men slump.
The Israeli military said the men were wanted for throwing explosives and firing at troops and that after they surrendered and exited a building, “fire was directed toward the suspects.” It said the incident is under review and will be referred to the relevant professional bodies. Palestinian officials and witnesses disputed that description, calling the event an extrajudicial killing and saying the men posed no immediate threat when they were shot.
Separately, the wider operation in the region resulted in more than 100 arrests in nearby Tubas since Tuesday, according to advocacy groups. Residents described large numbers of soldiers and border police moving through neighborhoods and searching homes; at least one vehicle was reported destroyed in related raids. Palestinian leaders said Israeli forces removed the bodies of the two men from the scene.
Analysis & implications
The killings amplify long-standing complaints by Palestinians and human rights organizations that Israeli security forces use disproportionate force in West Bank operations. Even when internal investigations are opened, rights groups argue those inquiries seldom produce indictments or systemic changes, undermining public confidence and fueling cycles of mistrust and unrest. The recurrence of such incidents risks deepening local grievances and complicating any efforts to reduce violence in the occupied West Bank.
Politically, the episode underscores fractures in Israeli public life: segments of the political leadership and parts of the electorate prioritize aggressive counterterrorism measures, while others warn such tactics erode rule-of-law norms and Israel’s international standing. The 2017 case of IDF soldier Elor Azaria — convicted of manslaughter after shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker and later released early — remains a touchstone for debates over accountability and military conduct.
Regionally, the timing matters. With a shaky Gaza ceasefire ongoing and renewed strikes in southern Lebanon, incidents in the West Bank can inflame cross-border tensions or be used rhetorically by different actors. The reported removal of the victims’ bodies and discrepant narratives between Israeli authorities and Palestinian officials increase the risk of demonstrations, further raids or retaliatory acts that could cascade beyond localities.
Comparison & data
| Incident | Date | Reported figures |
|---|---|---|
| Jenin shooting (this report) | Nov. 27, 2025 | 2 killed (Al-Muntasir Abdullah, 26; Yousef Asasa, 37) |
| Tubas operation | Nov. 25–27, 2025 | >100 detained (local advocacy group) |
| Lebanon strikes since ceasefire | Past year (to Nov. 2025) | At least 127 civilians killed (U.N. report) |
The table places the Jenin shooting in a wider operational and temporal context: the immediate operation produced mass detentions in Tubas, while parallel air campaigns in Lebanon have led to international concern about civilian harm. These figures come from local advocacy groups and U.N. reporting; differences in counting methods and access constraints mean they are best understood as minimums rather than exhaustive totals.
Reactions & quotes
Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who supervises the national police, publicly praised the forces involved, framing the operation as a legitimate counterterrorism action and endorsing forceful measures. His statement has been read by supporters as affirmation of tough security policies and by critics as encouragement for harsher tactics.
“They acted exactly as they are expected to — terrorists must die!”
Itamar Ben-Gvir (Israeli national security minister)
The Palestinian prime minister’s office described the killings as an execution carried out in cold blood and called for international scrutiny, heightening diplomatic pressure and calls for independent investigations. Palestinian leaders warned the incident could spur protests and international condemnation if left unaddressed.
“An outright extrajudicial killing in blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
Palestinian prime minister’s office (official statement)
The Israeli military emphasized it was investigating and that professional bodies would review the case, a response intended to signal institutional oversight even as critics question the independence and outcome of such reviews. Human rights groups reiterated calls for transparent, independent probes and accountability for any unlawful killings.
“Fire was directed toward the suspects; the matter is under review.”
Israeli military (official statement)
Unconfirmed
- It is not independently verified whether the two men fired at troops immediately before the shooting; video shows surrender gestures but does not capture the full preceding engagement.
- The exact sequence and timing of gunfire, including which individuals fired the fatal shots, remain under investigation and have not been definitively established in the public record.
- Claims about the men having explosives were not confirmed by an independent forensic report available at the time of publication.
Bottom line
The killings in Jenin exemplify persistent tensions in the West Bank between Israeli security operations and Palestinian communities, and they highlight enduring doubts about the effectiveness and transparency of internal reviews. Given the history of limited accountability for similar incidents, the manner and independence of the current investigation will be closely watched by rights groups, Palestinian authorities and international actors.
In the near term, the incident could fuel protests and harden stances on both sides, complicating steps to de-escalate violence across the region. For observers, the critical questions are whether a credible, independent inquiry will be carried out, whether responsible individuals are held to account, and how policymakers will address the operational and legal gaps that generate recurring lethal encounters.
Sources
- Associated Press (news report) — original coverage of the incident and local reporting.
- Israel Defense Forces (official) — institutional statements and press releases on military operations.
- Prime Minister’s Office, Palestine (official) — Palestinian government statements and reactions.
- United Nations OCHA (international organization) — reporting on humanitarian impact and civilian casualties in Lebanon and the region.
- Human Rights Watch (NGO) — documentation and analysis of rights concerns in occupied territories and conflict zones.