Jerusalem, Israel – Israeli troops were involved in a deadly incident on Gaza’s beach, resulting in the shooting of two Palestinians and injuring a third. The military confirmed the events after a video circulated showing the men falling to the ground and being moved by a bulldozer in the sandy area. The military explained that the troops resorted to firing their weapons after the men appeared to disregard warning shots.
The video, shared by Al Jazeera, featured blurry footage of the Palestinians waving white flags before being shot at. This incident adds to a series of similar videos showing Palestinians in Gaza being targeted or killed by Israeli forces, sparking concerns about the use of force. In response to the beach shootings, the Israeli army claimed that the video was edited and actually depicted two separate incidents in different locations in central Gaza.
One part of the video captured a man walking away from Israeli forces before falling to the ground, allegedly after being shot. He was shown raising his hands in surrender, a moment later waving a white flag. Another segment showed another Palestinian approaching Israeli forces while holding what Al Jazeera identified as a white flag before disappearing from view.
The video concluded with Israeli bulldozers dragging the bodies of two men through the sand, with the military stating that the vehicles were used as a precaution against potential explosive threats. Despite claims that the men were carrying bags, no such items were visible in the footage. The army later released the wounded man after questioning.
The Qatari network reported that the men in the video were attempting to return to their homes in northern Gaza after being displaced by the conflict. Allegations of disproportionate or indiscriminate force used by the Israeli military in Gaza have raised concerns over civilian casualties. Human rights groups have criticized military investigations for rarely resulting in indictments of the involved soldiers.
Citing over 32,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza due to Israeli fire, the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave emphasized the toll of the ongoing conflict. The unrest erupted when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel, resulting in numerous casualties. The exact date of the incident captured in the video remains unknown, further fueling debates on the use of military force in the region.