Background

Since early 2022, Israel has intensified its military raids and attacks, and campaign of mass arrests, and has increased its utilization of its shoot-to-kill policy, and collective punishment practices against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including the eastern part of annexed Jerusalem, with the intention of suppressing the growing Palestinian resistance, particularly in the Governorates of Jenin and Nablus.

Israel’s recurring raids on Palestinian cities, which are an almost daily reality, have severely escalated and intensified since the start of 2022. Throughout that year, 192 Palestinians, including 44 children were killed by the IOF and Israeli settlers throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. 

These attacks are widespread and part of a pattern of collective punishment designed to suppress any form of resistance to Israel’s settler-colonial and apartheid regime.

The Sabbagh house engulfed in flames after being struck by Israeli anti-structure missiles, highlighting the destruction caused during the military assault.

Less than a week after the most recent Israeli attack on Nablus on May 4 2023 and with the support of Forensic Architecture in London, Al-Haq has launched an interactive urban narrative that studies and analyzes two deadly Israeli attacks on Jenin and Nablus in January and February of this year. 

By geo-locating and plotting original and exclusive footage collected by Al-Haq from Jenin and Nablus within hours of the raids, this interactive platform shows how the Israeli Occupying Forces [IOF] repeatedly used undercover soldiers in civilian disguise to infiltrate the urban fabric of Palestinian cities and refugee camps. Our findings reveal how the familial layout of raided homes is rearranged by the IOF, effectively turning them into a military concealment base and risking the lives of families inside. This destructive practice by the IOF is followed by the full encirclement of the building under attack, with the launching of anti-structure missiles inflicting extensive damage to civilian areas.

An aerial view of the Jenin Social Youth Club after Israeli bulldozers demolished the outside yard area on January 26, 2023. The destruction is evident as the surrounding area is filled with rubble, vehicles, and onlookers surveying the aftermath.

The Incidents

The Attack on Jenin: 26 January 2023

The IOF carried out its bloodiest military attack on Jenin Refugee Camp since the Second Intifada on that day. The attack occurred approximately 500 meters from where Shireen was shot and resulted in the killing of ten Palestinians and injuries to around 20 more. This vicious military attack also targeted various civilian properties and infrastructure within the Camp.

The interactive spatial map above documents the Israeli attack on the city of Jenin on January 26, 2023. Swipe to interact with the map above and explore key locations, events, and spatial data related to the attack.

The Details of the Attack on Jenin:

- Al-Quraiynie Family House: The IOF targeted a home near the Sabbagh family building, the main focus of this Israeli attack, using a munition that caused a fire. The fire spread through much of the third floor, where the Al-Quraiynie family, including five children, lives, putting their lives in danger.

- Abu Al-Haija Family House: Upon raiding the home, the IOF transformed the layout of Abu Al-Haija’s residence, turning it into a military concealment base in a maneuver known as the "Straw Widow" technique. Within minutes, they rearranged the living room furniture and cut through the windows to launch missiles from the home toward the Sabbagh building, located about 40 meters away. The IOF blindfolded the father, tied his hands, and confined him to the bathroom for 30 minutes, while placing the mother and two toddlers in the living room near windows amid heavy gunfire, endangering the family’s lives.

- The Sabbagh building: The IOF surrounded the building from different directions, launching handheld missiles and firing live bullets at it from two residential buildings used as concealment points. This occurred without any warning to the Palestinians inside the building. Visual evidence highlights the extensive destruction brought by the IOF  attack on the Sabbagh family building. Moreover, this shows how the IOF utilised a tactic known as the “Pressure Cooker Technique”. This extrajudicial execution method involves progressively escalating the use of force against a targeted structure, in an attempt to compel any individuals inside to surrender. If they fail to do so, the IOF may ultimately demolish the building, resulting in the killing of all those present. 

- The Killing of Majida Obaid: By around 9:15 am, Majida Obaid, a 61-year-old grandmother, was fatally shot in the neck and chest, while looking out of the window of her fourth-floor apartment. The apartment is located 60 meters away from the position of IOF marksmen in Abu Al-Haija family home.

The Attack on Nablus: 22 February 2023

On this day, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) launched a four-hour military assault on the old city of Nablus, resulting in the deaths of ten Palestinians, injuring approximately one hundred others, and causing partial destruction to a civilian structure.

Swipe to interact with the map above documenting the hyper-militarized behavior of the IOF in Nablus and its impact on Palestinian lives.

-IOF Infiltration Tactics: Around 9:30 a.m., seven undercover Israeli soldiers, disguised as religious figures and veiled women, infiltrated the eastern part of Nablus Souq (market) and made their way to the Great Mosque of Nablus (Salahi Mosque) in the old city. These tactics are frequently used by Musta'aribeen units, which are part of Israeli border police units like Duvduvan and Yamas. Often, these units take over Palestinian homes to establish temporary outposts in a tactic known as “Straw Widow,” aimed at targeting Palestinian individuals.

-”Pressure Cooker Tactic”: A group of Israeli occupying forces (IOF) surrounded a targeted house in the Habaleh neighbourhood. Simultaneously, undercover IOF agents, along with other soldiers, raided a Palestinian family’s apartment on the building’s third floor. Meanwhile, another Israeli soldier was spotted firing an anti-tank weapon, the M72 LAW, from the rooftop of the Bishtawe family building to the south, inflicting significant damage on multiple parts of the targeted building, especially the second floor.

This tactic, known as the “pressure cooker” procedure, involves a gradual escalation of force against a structure to compel individuals inside to surrender. If they do not comply, the IOF may demolish the building, often resulting in the deaths of those inside.

-The “Neighbor Procedure”: During the attack, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) held 16-year-old Anas Al-Khalili, whose family owns Al-Khalili Restaurant near the besieged house. At gunpoint, they threatened Anas and two family members, forcing the latter to move to the farthest part of the home. The IOF then blindfolded Anas and took him to the first floor, putting his life at risk. This action is part of the IOF's “Neighbor Procedure.” This procedure involves using local Palestinians to assist in military operations, often placing them in dangerous situations. 

-Containment Techniques: The Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) deployed military vehicles strategically to block all access points to the targeted neighbourhoods, establishing a complete blockade that prevented entry and exit. During the attack, the IOF used armoured vehicles in paired formations to cordon off the area, restrict movement, and isolate the targeted neighbourhoods, suppressing any potential resistance from local residents and protesters.

-Attacks on Journalists: Three journalists were injured during the raid. At around 10:20 a.m., freelance photographer Ahmad Khalaf was shot in the arm on King Faisal Street near Nablus Municipality, describing the gunfire as “so intense, it seemed as if the IOF were shooting at anything that moved.” An hour later, Palestine TV reporter Mohammad Khatib suffered chest fractures from an object fired at him, while Omayr Istaitia of An-Najah Nbc sustained injuries to his left ear from bullet fragments while covering the attack on the eastern Souq.

-Shoot-to-Kill Policy: At 11:20 a.m., 24-year-old Mohammad Anbusi and 22-year-old Jasir Qan’eer were fatally shot in the Krum Ashur area of Ras Al-Ein neighbourhood, south of the old city. Positioned approximately 80 metres away, an Israeli Wolf armoured vehicle opened fire; CCTV footage reveals Mohammad was initially shot in the lower body while setting off fireworks, prompting Jasir to rush to his aid. As they fled, the IOF fired multiple rounds, with injuries concentrated in the upper body, suggesting intent to kill. Later, at 11:40 a.m. in the Qaisariya area, 71-year-old Adnan Bu’arah was shot multiple times by an IOF marksman from an MDT David vehicle, sustaining injuries to his leg, neck, chest, and stomach. Footage shows that paramedics attempting aid were targeted, delaying assistance for 10-15 minutes. Near Al-Rahma Clinic, an Israeli Wolf vehicle fired over ten rounds at Palestinians taking cover, resulting in the deaths of 64-year-old Abdelaziz Ashqar and 16-year-old Mohammad Haj Ahmad near Al-Rahma Clinic.

The deliberate killing of ten Palestinians, including one child, the destruction of a civilian property, and the targeting of civilians, including journalists, during the heavily militarised four-hour attack carried out during daylight hours on Nablus city centre, constitute the war crimes of wilful killing, destruction of property and a prohibited act of aggression.