Article:

Witnesses in the occupied West Bank have accused Israel of targeting a group of Palestinian civilians with no links to armed groups and who posed no threat to Israeli forces. The incident occurred on 7th January, when an Israeli air strike killed seven men, including four brothers, as they sat around a fire near the road through al-Shuhada village, 10km from the city of Jenin.

Relatives of the victims, witnesses in the area, and a paramedic at the scene have all provided strong evidence that the men were not members of militant groups and that there was no clash with Israeli forces taking place during the airstrike. One witness highlighted that the attire of one of the victims, who was wearing slippers and pyjamas, contradicts the presumption that they were involved in resisting the Israeli occupation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has linked the strike to a military operation earlier that day in Jenin refugee camp which resulted in the death of a female soldier. However, both IDF footage and a nearby CCTV camera footage do not show any clear evidence of confrontations in al-Shuhada at the time of the strike.

The victims, aged between 22 and 29, were Palestinian emigrants who had returned from Jordan a few years ago with their mother and siblings. Permit documents seen by the BBC indicate that two of the brothers had valid permits issued in September 2023, allowing them to work in Israel. However, since the October Hamas attacks, the borders with Israel have been closed to Palestinian workers.

A paramedic present at the scene, Khalid al-Ahmad, stated that there were no weapons or evidence of resistance. Armed Palestinian groups, which normally claim any members killed by Israeli forces, have remained silent about these victims.

During the funeral, the bodies of the deceased were wrapped in flags of Palestinian groups, including Hamas. This common practice often occurs even when the deceased are not supporters themselves.

Relatives, neighbors, and the head of Jenin's main hospital all backed the claim that the victims had no links to militant groups. The head of the hospital emphasized that it is usually clear from people's behavior if they are associated with such groups and stated that all seven individuals were civilians.

The Israeli army, when asked to explain the targeted attack, said that soldiers had pursued the "terrorists who murdered an Israeli citizen" and that the airstrike targeted a group that had hurled explosives at Israeli forces, putting them in danger. However, the IDF did not provide any further comment or information regarding the incident.

The timing of events is essential in determining the justification for the use of lethal force under international law. The circumstances surrounding this incident raise concerns about the increasing use of military tactics and weapons in law enforcement operations by Israeli forces, something that is prohibited under international human rights law except when strictly necessary to protect life.

As the investigation into this fatal airstrike continues, human rights organizations and the international community will closely monitor the situation, calling for a thorough and impartial examination of the incident to ensure accountability for any potential violations.