Israeli forces shoot dead 2 Palestinians, kill 10 in Syrian village

JENIN, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — The Israeli army and police said Thursday they were investigating the circumstances in which two Palestinians were shot dead in the occupied West Bank while seemingly surrendering to Israeli forces.

The incident in Jenin in the northern West Bank, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups, was filmed from several angles, including by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Palestinian Authority named the two men killed as 37-year-old Yussef Ali Asa’sa and 26-year-old Al-Muntasir Billah Mahmud Abdullah.

It said they were killed in a “brutal” summary execution and condemned the incident as a “war crime.”

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir swiftly backed the forces who opened fire, saying: “Terrorists must die!”

Videos circulating on social media and on television channels showed two men emerging from a building with their arms raised, surrounded by Israeli forces. They were then seen lying on the ground before being directed back inside the building. Gunshots rang out and the two men were seen lying on the ground. Troops were later seen removing a body.

In a joint statement, the Israeli military and the police said they attempted to apprehend “wanted individuals who had carried out terror activities, including hurling explosives and firing at security forces.”

Village raided

Meanwhile, at least 10 people were killed by Israeli forces in a southern Syrian village overnight, Syrian state television reported Friday, after Israel’s army said six soldiers were wounded in an operation in the area.

“The number of martyrs from the Israeli aggression... has risen to 10, including women and children, while others remain trapped under the rubble,” Syrian state TV said, adding that dozens of families fled the village of Beit Jin to safety in nearby areas.

Israel’s army said at least six soldiers were wounded overnight in an operation to arrest suspects from the Lebanese Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya.

“The suspects operated in the area of Beit Jin in southern Syria and advanced terror attacks against Israeli civilians,” Israel’s military said in a statement.

It said three of the soldiers were seriously injured.

Local official Abdul Rahman Al-Hamrawi told AFP that the raid sparked clashes.