Israeli forces strapped a wounded Palestinian man to the front of a jeep and drove off in Jenin, West Bank.
The move, which has been confirmed by the Israeli military, has sparked outrage after footage of the event circulated on social media.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) acknowledged the breach of protocol, noting that the man, a suspect injured in an exchange of fire, was secured to the vehicle’s bonnet. The man’s family reported that he was taken by the military despite their request for medical assistance.
The IDF has promised a thorough investigation into the incident, stating: “This morning [Saturday], during counter-terrorism operations to apprehend wanted suspects in the area of Wadi Burqin, terrorists opened fire at IDF troops, who responded with fire. During the exchange of fire, one of the suspects was injured and arrested.
“In violation of orders and standard operating procedures, the suspect was taken by the forces while tied on top of a vehicle. The conduct of the forces in the video of the incident does not conform to the values of the IDF. The incident will be investigated and dealt with accordingly.”
The injured Palestinian was later transferred to the Red Crescent for medical treatment. This incident has contributed to the already escalating violence in the West Bank, which has intensified since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7.
The same day, another tragic event unfolded when a 12-year-old Palestinian boy died from injuries sustained after being shot by Israeli soldiers in El Bireh city. Additionally, Israeli forces reportedly killed two Palestinian men identified as militants in Qalqilyah city, and an Israeli man in his 60s was killed in the same area, allegedly by Palestinian militants.
The West Bank has seen a significant increase in violence, including frequent raids by Israeli forces and attacks by both Jewish settlers and Palestinian militants.
According to the UN, at least 480 Palestinians have been killed in conflict-related incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the start of the Gaza conflict.
The Gaza conflict itself escalated after Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and numerous hostages. In response, Israel has launched extensive bombings and a ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in over 37,400 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement of the 2.3 million population.
Most recently, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday killed at least 39 Palestinians in northern Gaza, with rescue operations ongoing. Fadel Naem, director of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, confirmed the arrival of dozens of bodies, underscoring the severe human toll of the conflict.
Israel reported targeting two Hamas military sites in Gaza City as part of its ongoing military operations.