Israel's Ben Gvir promotes head of unit involved in executing two Palestinians

Israel's far-right national security minister has promoted the commander of an undercover unit responsible for the execution of two unarmed Palestinians at point-blank range in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. 

Itamar Ben Gvir's decision to advance the commander in the Border Police to the rank of a colonel comes days after the killings took place in the Abu Dhahir neighbourhood.

The incident on Thursday was captured on video, showing the two men emerging from a building with their arms raised and their shirts lifted, clearly indicating they were unarmed, surrendering and posed no threat to the soldiers.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the victims as Al-Muntasir Abdullah, 26, and Yousef Asasa, 37.

A source within the Israeli police reportedly said the decision to promote the commander was made two weeks ago by the inspector general and the senior police command, adding that the decision would have required Ben Gvir's approval. 

The Israeli army and police, which were operating jointly in the area, admitted to the shootings, saying an investigation would be launched. 

According to local media, three officers from the same undercover unit were investigated by the Police Internal Investigations Department on suspicion of murder and illegal firing.

The three officers claimed that they felt "threatened" after the two Palestinians "did not respond to their instructions and made suspicious movements".

The United Nations on Friday described the killings as a "summary execution".

"We are appalled at the brazen killing by Israeli border police yesterday of two Palestinian men in Jenin," UN rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva on Friday.

Ending investigations into Palestinian killings

Ben Gvir has also vowed to end investigations into the killing of Palestinians, whom he labelled as "terrorists".

In a video statement, Ben Gvir can be seen visiting the military base where the unit responsible for the killing of the two Palestinians was stationed, announcing that he "came to embrace the heroic fighters here".

UN report accuses Israel of 'de facto' state policy of torture

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"This distorted procedure, according to which when our fighter shoots a terrorist, he is taken directly to investigation, must end," he said.

"We are fighting enemies and murderers who want to rape women and burn children."

Internal Israeli military investigations into soldiers’ actions almost never result in prosecution.

The UN Committee Against Torture said on Friday that the use of torture by the Israeli state was "organised and widespread" and had greatly increased since the beginning of the war on Gaza on 7 October 2023.

The report noted that Israel has no legislation criminalising torture, and that its laws allow public officials to be exempt from criminal liability under the principle of “necessity”.

Since 7 October 2023, Israel has intensified its already extensive military operations and presence in the West Bank.

Over the past two years, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and arrested thousands more across the occupied territory.