Israel’s military has initiated an investigation following disturbing footage showing soldiers discarding the bodies of three deceased Palestinians from a rooftop during a recent operation in the occupied West Bank. The incident took place in the northern town of Qabatiya, close to Jenin, where an Israeli military bulldozer was later seen removing the bodies.
The video has incited significant outrage, prompting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to label the event as a “serious incident” that contradicts its values and standards of conduct expected from its personnel. Local Palestinian authorities report that at least seven individuals died during the Israeli raid in Qabatiya on Thursday.
International humanitarian law mandates that all soldiers ensure the respectful treatment of deceased individuals, including those categorized as adversaries. The IDF stated that the operation in Qabatiya targeted terrorism, claiming four militants were killed in an exchange of fire, and three others died following a drone strike on a vehicle.
Eyewitness accounts describe a tense situation in which Israeli troops surrounded a building, leading to an escape attempt by several men to the rooftop, where they were subsequently shot by snipers. As the conflict subsided, witnesses reported seeing Israeli troops removing the bodies from the roof and loading them onto a bulldozer.
In their response to the footage, the IDF reiterated its commitment to reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident, emphasizing that it does not align with the organization’s standards. The military identified one of the deceased as Shadi Zakarneh, cited as being connected to orchestrating attacks in the northern West Bank, without explicitly identifying the militant group with which he was associated.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the scene as a “crime” that highlights the alleged brutality of the Israeli military.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, contributing to a spike in fatalities. Reports indicate over 690 Palestinians have died in recent weeks, amid intensified Israeli search and arrest operations. Israel claims that these measures aim to prevent further attacks, as at least 33 Israelis have also been killed. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths, according to sources.
