Israeli soldiers were filmed pushing three bodies off a rooftop during a military raid in Qabatiya on Thursday. This incident adds to a growing list of alleged violations by Israeli forces in Palestinian territories.
Witnesses, including an Associated Press journalist, described the soldiers’ actions as inhumane. Soldiers initially attempted to use a bulldozer to remove the bodies but resorted to physically pushing them off the roof when that failed, according to a report from The Guardian. A fourth body was also reportedly thrown from an adjacent rooftop.
The act is in clear violation of international law as soldiers are required to treat bodies with decency even if they belong to enemy combatants.
The footage, which quickly went viral on social media, prompted a response from the Israeli military.
In a statement, they acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and asserted that it does not align with the values expected of their soldiers. However, they did not clarify whether an investigation would be conducted or if any soldiers would face repercussions.
The video has sparked widespread outrage among human rights advocates and governments worldwide. Even the United States, a long-standing ally of Israel, expressed condemnation. US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called the footage “deeply disturbing,” stating that if authentic, it reflects unacceptable behavior from soldiers.
The raid in Qabatiya is part of broader Israeli military raids in the West Bank, which have resulted in the deaths of over 700 Palestinians since the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Israeli officials claim that the raids are necessary to combat rising militancy.