WASHINGTON, USA: The US State Department described a video showing a wounded Palestinian man tied to a military jeep by Israeli forces as “shocking” and called for a swift investigation to hold those responsible accountable. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that using humans as shields is “absolutely unacceptable” and urged the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to investigate and address the incident promptly.
The video, verified by news agency, shows Mujahed Azmi, a resident of Jenin, tied to the hood of a military jeep during an Israeli arrest raid in the West Bank. The Israeli military confirmed that their forces had exchanged fire, wounding and apprehending a suspect, and that the conduct seen in the video violated military protocol. They assured that the incident would be investigated, and the responsible soldiers would be held accountable.
Miller acknowledged the Israeli military’s statement that the actions were inconsistent with their protocols and stressed the importance of appropriate investigation and accountability. This incident is part of a broader context of escalating violence in the West Bank, which has seen increased army raids, settler rampages, and deadly street attacks, particularly since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza in October.
