LONDON: Two Palestinian men, shot during a military operation in the occupied West Bank, shared with the BBC how Israeli soldiers forced them onto the bonnet of an army jeep and drove at high speeds along village roads.
This comes after footage emerged of 23-year-old Mujahid Abadi Balas clinging to the bonnet of a similar jeep, sparking international outrage.
Samir Dabaya, currently hospitalized in Jenin, recounted being shot in the back during the operation in Jabariyat on Saturday. He lay face-down, bleeding for hours, until soldiers approached, beat him with a gun, and then lifted him onto a vehicle. Dabaya, 25, described being driven while semi-naked on the hot bonnet of a fast-moving jeep, fearing for his life.
Hesham Isleit, another Palestinian, told the BBC he was shot twice during the same operation and similarly forced onto the jeep. Isleit described intense shooting and being forced onto the burning hot vehicle while undressed and barefoot. He was told to comply to avoid being killed.
The Israeli army responded to the video of Balas, stating that tying him to the jeep was “a violation of orders and procedures” and that an investigation would be conducted.
