Belgium’s foreign minister condemns Israeli soldiers for killing two Palestinians

Belgium’s foreign minister has sharply criticised Israel after footage from the occupied West Bank showed two Palestinians being shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Jenin, even as they appeared to surrender.

Maxime Prevot said he was “shocked” by the video, describing it as “images showing Israeli soldiers cold-bloodedly shooting two surrendering civilians”. He stressed that the killings defied international law and demanded accountability from Israel, which continues to carry out lethal operations across Palestinian towns and refugee camps.

“This violence must stop,” Prevot wrote, adding to the growing diplomatic pressure on Israel as its forces and armed settlers intensify attacks across the occupied territory.

His remarks came shortly after the foreign ministers of France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany issued a rare joint statement warning of a “massive increase of settler violence” in the West Bank. The ministers urged Israel to rein in armed settlers, who operate with near-total impunity under military protection, and said the escalating assaults risk further destabilising the territory.