Israeli troops 'did as expected' in point-blank execution of Palestinians: Ben-Gvir

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has given his full support to soldiers and police who executed two Palestinian men at point-blank range on Thursday, amid growing international outrage sparked by footage of the incident.

"Lending full backing to the Border Police and IDF troops who shot at wanted terrorists who were coming out of a building in Jenin. The troops acted precisely as is expected of them - terrorists have to die!" Ben-Gvir said on X.

The minister, who is in charge of Israel's police, made the statement after the army and Border Police said an investigation had been launched into the matter.

Video of the incident shows 26-year-old Al-Muntasir Billah Abdullah and 37-year-old Youssef Asasa surrendering with their arms raised before they were shot and killed by Israeli forces.

The army claimed that its forces had entered the area where two senior Islamic Jihad operatives were located, surrounding the building in a standoff that took several hours.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan cited an Israeli soldier who said that one of the Palestinians attempted to flee before it could be determined whether he was carrying explosives or weapons. The soldier claimed that the men did not comply and attempted to return to the building, so they were shot.

The video contradicts the Israeli claims, with both men seen clambering out of the building on their knees with their hands raised. At one point, the men appear to lift their shirts to show they have no weapons.

An Israeli soldier is then seen kicking one of the men, before both are shot dead and an army bulldozer tears down a roller shutter door over their bodies.

Israeli media outlets have noted concern among army officials about the incident; however, the army's internal investigations are typically a formality triggered in response to international pressure. Investigations often conclude without prosecution or with lenient sentencing.

The UN weighed in on Friday, saying it was "appalled" at the summary execution of the two Palestinian men.

"We are appalled at the brazen killing by Israeli border police yesterday of two Palestinian men in Jenin," UN rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva, calling the incident "yet another apparent summary execution".

UN human rights chief Volker Turk, meanwhile, called for "independent, prompt and effective investigations into the killings of Palestinians".

Israeli rights group B'Tselem said on Friday that Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023.

"Those responsible for the killings, soldiers and settlers alike, enjoy complete impunity under Israeli law," the group said.