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A disturbing video capturing the execution of two unarmed Palestinian men by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin has ignited international outrage and accusations of war crimes. The incident occurred on Thursday in the Abu Dhahir neighborhood, where Al-Muntasir Billah Mahmoud Qassem Abdullah, 26, and Yousef Ali Yousef Asa’sa, 37, were shot dead at point-blank range after surrendering with their hands raised and shirts lifted to demonstrate they posed no threat.

The Israeli military and police, conducting joint operations in the area, acknowledged the shootings and promised an investigation. However, historical patterns indicate such internal military inquiries rarely result in prosecutions. Officers involved, reportedly from the Border Police unit, claimed the men failed to follow instructions by returning to a building against orders, justifying their use of lethal force.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir publicly endorsed the officers’ actions, stating on social media that ‘terrorists must die!’ and that the officers ‘acted exactly as expected of them.’ This stance contrasts sharply with the Palestinian Authority’s condemnation of what they termed ‘brutal field executions’ and a ‘war crime.’ Hamas further characterized the incident as part of a ‘systematic campaign of extermination’ in the West Bank.

The killings occurred during intensified Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank, part of a broader escalation since October 2023. Over the past two years, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and arrested thousands across the occupied territory, with recent large-scale operations in Jenin and Tulkarm displacing approximately 30,000 people and causing extensive property destruction. Israeli forces have withheld the victims’ bodies following the killings.

Israeli security forces fatally shot two Palestinian men during a military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Thursday, despite video evidence showing both individuals appearing to surrender while unarmed. Palestine TV footage captured the disturbing sequence where 26-year-old Montasir Abdullah and 37-year-old Yusuf Asasa exited a building surrounded by armed Israeli troops, lifted their shirts to demonstrate they carried no weapons, and lay prone on the ground in clear surrender gestures.

The visual record shows Israeli forces subsequently directing the men back inside the structure before opening fire at close range. A Reuters journalist confirmed witnessing the surrender sequence and later observed Israeli forces standing near what appeared to be a lifeless body following audible gunshots.

The Israeli military and police issued a joint statement acknowledging an investigation into the incident, stating forces had fired toward suspects who exited a building during an operation targeting individuals wanted for ‘terror activities.’ The statement identified the deceased as wanted individuals affiliated with a ‘terror network’ in Jenin but provided no specific allegations or evidence substantiating these claims.

Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub condemned the shooting as a ‘cold-blooded execution’ of unarmed civilians, expressing skepticism about the likelihood of a genuine investigation. The incident occurred amid intensified Israeli operations across northern West Bank cities, with another operation launched in nearby Tubas on Wednesday.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir offered his ‘full backing’ to the involved units, declaring ‘terrorists should die!’ in a social media post. Palestinian group Hamas, while not claiming the men as members, denounced the killings as ‘escalating field executions’ and called for international intervention.

Southeast Asia confronts a mounting humanitarian crisis as catastrophic flooding propelled by cyclone conditions has resulted in 129 confirmed fatalities across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The region has endured a week of relentless torrential rains, exacerbated by the unusual formation of a tropical storm within the Malacca Strait.

On the severely impacted Indonesian island of Sumatra, the national disaster mitigation agency reported 72 deaths. Spokesman Abdul Muhari confirmed that emergency crews are battling widespread communication blackouts, working to reinstate power infrastructure, and clear vital roadways obstructed by landslide debris. Aerial operations continue to airlift essential aid and rescue personnel into the most isolated and affected zones.

The southern provinces of Thailand bear the heaviest toll, with official figures rising to 87 fatalities. A significant number of these victims, at least 55, were discovered in the submerged province of Songkhla. In the city of Hat Yai, residents waded through lingering floodwaters to assess the comprehensive destruction to their homes and businesses, with one local resident despairingly stating they had ‘lost everything,’ even as the rains subsided.

Malaysian authorities reported two confirmed deaths as Tropical Storm Senyar, which made landfall near midnight, has since lost intensity. The meteorological department maintains alerts for potential heavy rain and hazardous winds, issuing warnings for small vessels against perilous sea conditions. While the number of evacuees in shelters has decreased from 34,000 to 30,000, cross-border rescue efforts are underway. The Malaysian foreign ministry successfully evacuated 1,459 of its citizens from over 25 flooded hotels in Thailand and is coordinating missions to retrieve approximately 300 nationals still stranded in inundated areas.