Nablus: Israeli soldiers executed two Palestinian brothers in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank 'without any justification,' according to an investigation by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. The incident occurred in June, with findings announced on Wednesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, Nidal Amirah, 40, and Khaled Amirah, 35, were shot dead by Israeli army forces in the Old City of Nablus on June 10. They were allegedly targeted for 'posing a threat' during a military raid. B'Tselem's investigation, which utilized video footage and eyewitness testimonies, concluded that the soldiers unjustifiably broke into homes and detained residents for interrogation.
The rights group reported that Palestinian residents began evacuating the area due to the heavy presence of Israeli forces, seeking safety amid fears of civilian-targeted attacks. Around 1 pm, medics arrived to assist the Qutub family, who were attempting to flee. Journalists documenting the events were also present.
When medics reached the neighborhood's edge, Israeli soldiers detained four young men from the Qutub family, allowing the rest to leave. Nidal and Khaled arrived to assist another family, according to B'Tselem. Nidal, an unarmed officer in the Palestinian Authority security forces, approached soldiers with his empty hands raised. Despite complying with initial requests, he was attacked by soldiers.
Khaled attempted to intervene, but soldiers pointed weapons at the group of medics and journalists, forcing them to retreat. Six shots were fired, injuring a medic and a cameraman. Soldiers continued to beat Nidal, while Khaled was dragged into an alley where soldiers attempted to subdue him.
Inside the alley, gunfire erupted, and Nidal was shot in the back while trying to escape. A soldier then allegedly executed Khaled with a point-blank shot to the head, B'Tselem stated. Medics were prevented from providing aid to the brothers, despite Nidal being alive and potentially saveable at that moment.
The Israeli army's statement claimed that the Amirah brothers attempted to seize a soldier's weapon, causing accidental gunfire that injured several soldiers. However, B'Tselem emphasized that forensic evidence and testimonies clearly show Khaled was executed while posing no threat, and Nidal was shot from behind while escaping.
B'Tselem's documentation challenges the army's narrative, asserting that the soldiers initiated the attack on the Amirah brothers. The report also highlights the broader context of violence in the occupied West Bank, where over 1,092 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 11,000 injured since October 2023. The International Court of Justice has declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal, calling for the evacuation of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.