• The UN describes the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli forces as a potential summary execution.
• Witnesses indicate the victims were unarmed and surrendered before being shot.
• Israeli authorities have opened an investigation but have been criticized for lack of accountability.

Israeli army forces executed two Palestinian youths at point-blank range in Jenin on Thursday evening, according to aa and middleeasteye. The Palestinian Health Ministry named the victims as Muntasir Qassem Abdullah, 26, and Youssef Assa’sa, 37. Eyewitness accounts revealed that both men raised their hands in surrender prior to being shot, leading to widespread outrage.

The killings, captured on video, show the two men emerging unarmed from a building when Israeli troops opened fire. This incident has been condemned as a "war crime" by various human rights organizations and led to a statement from the United Nations calling it an "apparent summary execution". UN human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence noted, “We’re appalled by the brazen killing…” according to Reuters and middleeasteye.

After the incident, the Israeli army stated an investigation would be conducted, despite skepticism about their willingness to hold soldiers accountable. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir openly supported the actions of the officers involved, saying they “acted exactly as expected of them” and referred to the deceased as terrorists, according to Reuters and middleeasteye.

The backdrop to this violence includes a wider military campaign by Israel in the West Bank, which has intensified significantly since October 7, 2023. Following military operations, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed and many more detained, exacerbating the already severe humanitarian situation in the region, according to aa and middleeasteye.