The footage, recorded in the northern town of Qabatiya near Jenin, also appears to show an Israeli military bulldozer collecting and removing the bodies afterward.
The images have ignited widespread outrage. On Friday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) called it “a serious incident” that “does not align” with its values or the expectations for its soldiers.
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Palestinian officials reported that at least seven people were killed by Israeli forces during the raid in Qabatiya on Thursday.
International law requires that even enemy combatants’ bodies be treated with dignity and respect.
The IDF explained that it had conducted a counterterrorism operation in Qabatiya, during which four militants were killed in a gunfight, while three more were killed by a drone strike targeting a car.
A local journalist described how Israeli troops had surrounded a building, prompting four men inside to flee to the roof, where they were then shot by snipers. After the fighting, the journalist witnessed Israeli troops throwing the bodies off the roof, which were then loaded onto a bulldozer.
Responding to the footage, the IDF reiterated that the incident is under investigation, as the actions do not reflect its values.
The military identified one of those killed, Shadi Zakarneh, as the leader of a terrorist group in Qabatiya, responsible for organizing and executing attacks in the region, though it did not specify the group.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the event on social media, calling it a “crime” that highlights the “brutality” of the Israeli army.
John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, described the footage as “deeply disturbing” and said that if confirmed as authentic, it would show “abhorrent and egregious” behaviour by professional soldiers.
The incident comes amid a surge in violence in the West Bank following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 and the resulting war in Gaza. Since then, over 690 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry, while at least 33 Israelis have died in attacks.
In Gaza, over 41,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed as a result of Israeli military operations, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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