The United Nations has called for a thorough investigation after two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces in Jenin, deepening concerns over the escalating pattern of lethal operations across the occupied West Bank. The organisation described the incident as a deeply troubling example of killings carried out without legal justification, adding to a growing list of cases in which accountability remains absent.

During a briefing in Geneva, a spokesperson stressed that the circumstances surrounding the deaths demand an inquiry that is genuinely independent and capable of identifying responsibility. The call comes at a moment when violence linked to the wider genocidal war has increasingly spilled into the West Bank, leaving communities exposed to repeated raids, settler aggression, and widespread restrictions on movement. Local officials say the two men killed in Jenin had raised their hands and posed no threat when they were shot, fuelling outrage across the area.

Footage shared widely online appears to show the pair emerging from a building surrounded by soldiers, hands lifted in surrender. Moments later, they are seen lying on the ground before being taken back inside, where gunfire is heard. Their bodies have not been returned to their families, a practice that has become more frequent and has deepened the distress of relatives seeking basic answers. Regional authorities have condemned the killings as violations of international law and an extension of the climate of impunity that has taken hold.

The governor of Jenin criticised the Israeli military for blocking access to the site and preventing medical teams from reaching the men. Residents say the raid formed part of a larger operation launched earlier in the week across Jenin and Tubas, where increased military activity has become a defining feature of daily life. Many fear that the situation will continue to deteriorate as the wider genocidal war reshapes political and security dynamics throughout the Palestinian territories.

Figures confirmed by UN human rights staff show that more than 1,030 Palestinians, including over 220 children, have been killed in the occupied West Bank since October 2023. With investigations rarely leading to accountability, critics warn that each new killing contributes to a cycle that increasingly undermines the possibility of justice or protection for civilians.