Israeli Forces’ Use of Lethal Force Under Scrutiny After Shooting of Unarmed Palestinian

The shooting of an unarmed Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank has brought renewed attention to the use of lethal force by Israeli forces. The incident, captured on mobile phone footage, shows the man being shot in the back of the head as he runs away from an Israeli military jeep. The man, Ameed al-Jaghoub, remains critically ill in intensive care, with doctors fearing he may not survive. Human rights groups have condemned the incident, stating that casualty rates from “unjustified” use of force are the highest they have been in two decades. The shooting comes amid a climate of escalating violence in the West Bank, with deadly attacks by Palestinians against Israelis, mob violence by Israeli settlers, and Israeli military raids into Palestinian cities becoming increasingly frequent. The shooting of Mr. Jaghoub is one of many similar incidents that have not led to prosecutions or meaningful accountability. The US State Department expressed alarm over the incident and called for a thorough investigation and “full accountability”. However, Mr. Jaghoub’s family believes that the international community will do little to address the issue. The shooting took place in the village of Beita, which has already been deeply affected by the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts in the region. These settlements and outposts, which are deemed illegal under international law, have led to increased tensions and protests in the area. Rights groups argue that the use of lethal force by Israeli forces is not justified by clashes with protesters and that it violates international law. Israel, on the other hand, maintains that its forces operate to protect Israeli civilians and that lethal force is necessary in the face of a “terror wave” in the West Bank. The incident has reignited debates over the use of force, settlement expansion, and the lack of accountability for such incidents.