Israeli military, on Sunday, admitted that its forces violated protocol by strapping a wounded Palestinian man to the front of their vehicle during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the incident after it was caught on camera and shared on social media, triggering backlash. Notably, there have been multiple incidents of IDF exploiting its powers in both the West Bank and Gaza, since the war started on October 7 last year.
Footage captured the moment Israeli occupation forces drove off a neighbourhood in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, with an injured Palestinian man placed on the hood of their military vehicle on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/A7bTzaqcfP
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 22, 2024
As per the IDF, the Palestinian man, identified as Mujahid Azmi, was a suspect who was wounded in an exchange of fire during the raid. However, his family said that when they asked for an ambulance, the army took him, strapped him to the bonnet of their jeep, and drove off. The individual was eventually transferred to the Red Crescent for treatment.
In light of the horrifying incident, the IDF said that it would investigate the incident. “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,” the IDF statement said. “During the exchange of fire, one of the suspects was injured and apprehended. 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,” it added.
Meanwhile, an Israeli man was fatally shot in the Palestinian town of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank on Saturday. This incident occurred as deadly strikes continued to hit northern Gaza. Over 37,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and more than 500 in the West Bank since Israel launched its assault following Hamas’ October 7 attack, which resulted in nearly 150 deaths.