National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday promoted the head of the West Bank division of the Border Police's Undercover Counterterrorism Unit (YAMAS) to the rank of Commander, despite three officers under his command being currently under investigation for killing two Palestinian terrorists who appeared to surrender already to Israeli forces in Jenin.
The promotion came even as the three officers were still giving testimony on the murder of the terrorists who surrendered, with the soldiers being suspected of committing unlawful gunfire. After being questioned, they were released under restrictive conditions, including a ban on contacting other involved parties.
Ben-Gvir responded to the investigation by saying, “We are fighting enemies and murderers who want to rape women and burn babies.”
The promotion came at the recommendation of the Israel Police commissioner and the senior command staff.
Ben-Gvir arrived at the unit’s base last Friday, met with officers, and declared that he is giving them full backing. “I came to strengthen and embrace the heroic fighters here," he said. "This distorted procedure must end, where as soon as one of our fighters shoots a terrorist, he is immediately taken in for questioning.
The incident in question in Jenin
Palestinian footage of the two terrorists being shot shows them first exiting a building with their hands raised. Later, additional footage showed their bodies being collected with a bulldozer.
According to initial findings, the two exited after a military bulldozer opened a hole in the wall. They came out without the weapons they had previously fired toward the forces, intending to turn themselves in.
According to military sources, one of the commanders decided to send the gunmen back into the building to retrieve their weapons. Military officials added that an officer who had not been informed of that decision apparently saw one of the gunmen approach or grab a weapon and opened fire. The shooting seen in the Palestinian footage occurred after the suspects exited the building, and the army is now examining how the decision was made and how it was understood by the entire unit.
The IDF notes that the investigation also addresses additional issues, including operational coordination between the forces, decisions made under pressure in the field, and how the incident was managed. At the same time, the military says there is disappointment that forces did not immediately report the sequence of events to senior command.