Israel Justifies Killing of Unarmed Palestinian in Nablus with False Pretexts

On Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces stormed the Old City of Nablus in the northern West Bank and launched a series of raids that triggered hours-long clashes.

Video footage from the incursion shows Israeli soldiers shooting an unarmed Palestinian youth in the al-Qasaba neighborhood, sparking widespread outrage across social media platforms. In an attempt to justify the killing, Israeli media outlets and the military spread a narrative claiming the young man tried to grab a soldier’s weapon.

Misbar refutes these Israeli claims by analyzing the video footage and drawing on eyewitness accounts. Misbar’s investigation offers critical context surrounding the incident, as documented by cameras and independent field sources.

Israeli Claims Used to Justify Execution of Unarmed Youth in Nablus

Israeli media outlets, including Channel 14 and Israel Hayom, published footage filmed by Palestinian journalist Abdullah Abu Sabra, showing the moment Israeli forces shot an unarmed Palestinian youth in Nablus’s al-Qasaba neighborhood.

In an apparent effort to justify the killing, these outlets described the incident as part of a “counterterror operation,” claiming that “terrorists” had ambushed Israeli soldiers. They alleged that one of the young men grabbed a soldier’s weapon and fired it toward the ground.

The reports further claimed that the two Palestinians attacked the soldiers, with one reportedly firing five rounds before being shot and killed. They reported that “[Israeli] forces neutralized and eliminated the attackers” at the scene.

In addition, the Israeli military published a statement on its official X account, alleging its troops, along with the Shin Bet and the Duvdevan unit, launched a wide-ranging operation in al-Qasaba targeting “terrorist activity.”

According to the statement, the Israeli military raided over 250 buildings, arrested six Palestinians, and seized weapons, including homemade “Carlo” submachine guns. The military repeated the narrative of an alleged weapon-snatching attempt, claiming that the confrontation resulted in gunfire that injured one soldier moderately and three others lightly, prompting the occupation forces to respond with fire and kill the alleged attackers.

Eyewitness Testimonies Refute Israeli Claims

Misbar's investigative team gathered testimonies from field journalists who were present during the Israeli raid on the Old City of Nablus.

Abdullah Abu Sabra, the journalist whose footage Israeli media used to support their narrative, told Misbar that the youth targeted by Israeli forces was completely unarmed and had raised his hands in surrender to show he posed no threat.

According to Abu Sabra, a brief verbal exchange took place between the youth and a soldier, who then kicked and physically assaulted him. In response, the young man attempted to defend himself before Israeli soldiers opened fire, killing him.

Ameed Shehade, a West Bank correspondent for Alaraby TV, also confirmed to Misbar that the young man had entered the area to evacuate his family and had raised his hands clearly to show he was unarmed. When he approached the soldiers at a distance of less than one meter, they ordered him to lift his shirt and then to remove his pants.

Shehade said the soldier then kicked and shoved the youth, sparking a brief confrontation with his hands. At that moment, the young man’s brother, wearing a black shirt, approached the scene with a paramedic from about 10 meters away. Gunfire erupted seconds later.

According to Shehade, the soldier initiated the aggression, while the youth only attempted to protect himself. He stressed that the youth never tried to seize the soldier’s weapon and posed no armed threat. The soldier, Shehade confirmed, fired directly at the young man, contradicting Israel’s official account.

He concluded by stating that the incident was a brief scuffle followed by gunfire. He also noted that the soldier had brandished his weapon in a threatening manner before shooting in front of medics and journalists at the scene. 

Roya TV journalist Hafez Abu Sabra confirmed that the shooting took place in an alley near Khan al-Tujjar, where Israeli occupation forces, including snipers, had taken up positions.

He reported standing with a group of journalists and medics, including Red Crescent and Medical Relief teams, who were evacuating civilians just minutes before the gunfire.

According to Abu Sabra, a Palestinian family, including an elderly man, three women, and a little girl, was being evacuated when the young man in the white shirt approached the soldiers with his hands raised. His brother, dressed in black, followed behind with a medic.

As the man neared the soldiers, one of them searched and then assaulted him, which led to a physical struggle. Moments later, the Israeli military opened fire at close range, killing the two brothers and injuring a paramedic. 

Israeli Raid and Assaults in Nablus Old City

On Tuesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that Israeli occupation forces killed two brothers, Nidal and Khaled Amira (aged 40 and 35), during a large-scale raid on the Old City of Nablus. The ministry also reported that the Israeli military is withholding their bodies.

Dozens of Palestinians sustained injuries, some from live ammunition, others from shrapnel caused by stun grenades and toxic gas canisters. Several victims also suffered from severe tear gas inhalation.

The incursion targeted the narrow alleyways of the Old City, where Israeli occupation forces sealed off all entrances, enforced a tight siege, and stormed local shops.

This raid forms part of a broader Israeli military campaign across several cities in the occupied West Bank, particularly Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm, amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

Video Shows Israeli Forces Executing Nidal Amira in Nablus

Video footage has documented the moment Israeli occupation forces executed Nidal Amira during a raid on the Old City of Nablus. The video shows Amira with his hands raised, visibly unarmed and posing no threat, before Israeli soldiers shot him. His brother, Khaled Amira, was also executed during the same raid.

Journalists and medics on the scene came under assault from tear gas grenades, leaving several injured.

The video evidence corroborates eyewitness testimonies collected by Misbar, which confirm that Nidal approached the soldiers with his hands clearly raised and no weapon in sight. One soldier kicked and physically assaulted him.

The footage shows Nidal trying to protect himself with his hands, and at no point does he attempt to seize a weapon, contradicting Israeli claims. Moments later, soldiers opened fire at close range, carrying out a field execution, fully captured on camera and audio.

Israel Claims Rami al-Kakhn Was Armed Before Executing Him in Nablus

The Israeli occupation continues to push misleading propaganda to justify its escalating crimes across the Palestinian territories.

In May, the Israeli military claimed that 30-year-old Rami Sami al-Kakhn was “armed and posed a threat” in an attempt to justify his field execution.

However, video footage that surfaced days after the incident contradicts that claim. The footage captures the moment an undercover Israeli special forces unit executed al-Kakhn during a raid on the Old City of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

The video shows al-Kakhn speaking calmly to another individual before an Israeli soldier, disguised in civilian clothing, approaches and shoots him with a handgun. Al-Kakhn had his hands raised in surrender at the time of the shooting, clearly posing no threat. 

Misbar Investigations Debunk Israeli Claims Against West Bank Civilians

Misbar's investigations debunked the Israeli frequent false claims used to justify violations against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank.

In February, Misbar refuted Israeli claims that airstrikes had targeted “terror operatives.” On-the-ground evidence revealed that the strikes hit densely populated residential areas, killing civilians, including children, contradicting official Israeli statements.

In October 2024, Misbar shared an in-depth investigation that revealed how several Western media outlets contributed to amplifying the Israeli narrative. 

Misbar’s blog shows how biased or neutral terminology strips incidents of their humanitarian and political context, thereby legitimizing violence against Palestinians and misleading international public opinion.

In July 2024, Misbar documented the Israeli military’s use of Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations. This act is considered a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. 

Misbar's investigation relied on video footage and eyewitness testimonies showing Israeli soldiers hiding behind civilians or forcing them into active combat zones, despite Israel’s ongoing denials of such practices.

In June 2024, Misbar also published another investigation exposing a separate incident in which Israeli soldiers used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield. Misbar pointed out how some media outlets either downplayed or distorted the incident, ignoring verified video evidence or reframing the event to minimize its severity, highlighting a repeated pattern of media bias.

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