Israeli soldiers detaining a child in the West Bank in 2021. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Anger, frustration and disbelief erupted on social media after a video surfaced showing footage of an Israeli soldier pushing a Palestinian's man body off a rooftop with his foot — following a deadly, hours-long raid in the occupied West Bank town of Qabatiya, near Jenin, on Thursday.
At least seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the raid, the Palestinian state agency Wafa reported Friday.
“This is a serious incident that is not in line with [Israeli army] values and what is expected of [Israeli army] soldiers,” the Israeli army said in a statement claiming that "the incident is under investigation."
Under international law, soldiers must verify that bodies, including those of enemy combatants, are treated properly.
Palestinian officials have expressed outrage after videos, of a same incident but captured from different angles, show Israeli soldiers kicking dead bodies off a rooftop in the occupied West Bank town of Qabatiya.
In a post on X, the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Ministry described the act as a “crime” that exposes the Israeli army’s “brutality.”
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zumlot, said the incident makes a mockery of the Israeli army’s claims of “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation soldiers throw injured men from a rooftop in Qabatiya outside Jenin in the occupied West Bank earlier today. This is Israel’s “self defence” pic.twitter.com/uYQxDYfJP2
— Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot) September 19, 2024
Mariam Barghouti, a Palestinian journalist and policy analyst, wrote on X: "It’s not barbaric. It’s psychopathic, a death cult ritual."
It’s not barbaric.
— Mariam Barghouti مريم البرغوثي (@MariamBarghouti) September 19, 2024
It’s psychopathic, a death cult ritual.
It’s this sick need to not just kill the Palestinian but to rip their bodies to pieces. To treat them with absolute disregard to them as a living being.
Because if they do, acknowledge that Palestinians indeed are… https://t.co/EjQhidrAkM
Gaza chief of communications at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, an NGO that advocated for human rights, Muhammad Shehada, wrote: " 'But... but Hamas threw people off rooftops' has been one of Israel's main talking points to justify slaughtering Gazans for decades. Here, the [Israeli army], in broad daylight, throwing a Palestinian off a rooftop after they shot him today."
"But... but Hamas threw people off rooftops" has been one of Israel's main talking points to justify slaughtering Gazans for decades.
— Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) September 19, 2024
Here, the IDF, in broad daylight, throwing a Palestinian off a rooftop after they shot him today.
You'll never hear MSM calling this barbaric! pic.twitter.com/v6bg76xJ0f
Israeli social media reactions were split between waiting for the alleged army's investigation, while others condoned the act deeming the bodies of Palestinians thrown from rooftops as "terrorists."
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 682 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
At least 24 Israelis, including members of the security forces, have been killed in Palestinian militant attacks during the same period, Israeli officials say.