Video of Jenin Killings Sparks Outrage and Raises Questions Over Accountability

A disturbing video from Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank, has ignited anger and renewed concerns over accountability within the Israeli military. The footage appears to show Israeli soldiers shooting two Palestinian men at close range after the pair seemed to surrender. Moments later, a mechanical digger is seen knocking down part of a building onto their bodies—actions that residents and rights advocates describe as chilling and deliberate.

What unsettles many viewers is not only the violence itself but the matter-of-fact manner in which at least six soldiers carry out the operation. Local residents say the incident might never have come to light had it not been recorded.

“Killed in cold blood,” locals say

In Jenin, the video has circulated widely. Farha Abu Alheja, a resident, said she felt “angry and frustrated” after watching it.

“They were killed in cold blood,” she said. “They could have arrested them instead of executing them. It’s a heinous crime.” As a Palestinian mother, she added, she could not imagine what the victims’ families were going through.

For many in Jenin, the footage amplifies a sense of abandonment and fear.

“We have no international protection,” Farha said. “We live in constant tension. You leave home and don’t know if it will still be standing when you return.”

Israeli military promises review—but history fuels doubt

The Israeli military says the incident will be investigated. IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani acknowledged that shots were “directed toward” the two men as they “exited” a building, though the video shows them re-entering under soldiers’ orders.

Shoshani noted that commanders have begun an internal review, and the case will be passed to “relevant professional bodies.”

However, past investigations offer little reassurance. Between 2018 and 2022, 219 cases alleging unlawful killings of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank were opened. Of those, 112 were dismissed outright; 106 of the remaining 107 resulted in no indictment. Only one case led to a conviction—ending in a sentence of three months of community service.

A city on edge

Jenin has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although the Oslo Accords designated it as an area under Palestinian Authority control, Israeli forces frequently carry out raids, demolitions, and arrests there, arguing that such operations prevent attacks. Palestinians see these actions as part of a deeper pattern of domination and encroachment.

Recent months have brought heightened anxiety. Palestinians are reeling from the devastation in Gaza and a surge of settler violence in the West Bank. Many say the atmosphere is thick with dread.

At the same time, a significant share of the Israeli public opposes investigations into allegations of military abuse. Surveys indicate that more than 60% of Israeli Jews do not believe soldiers should be prosecuted for actions taken against Palestinians. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has strongly defended the forces, denouncing what he calls a “distorted procedure” of questioning soldiers and claiming the military is battling violent enemies.

A difficult question few want to ask

The Jenin video appears unambiguous: calm shots fired at unarmed men who seemed to have surrendered. But the broader question—how such an incident was allowed to occur—remains contentious.

For many Palestinians, it reflects a system in which investigations rarely lead to accountability. For many Israelis, it is a topic they prefer not to confront.

As the internal review moves forward, the footage continues to circulate, forcing the world to reckon with a stark reality that might otherwise have remained unseen.