Haaretz: Israeli Soldiers in the West Bank Are Eager to Kill Palestinians Like in Gaza

Watan-On Monday, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper published a searing editorial accusing Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank of showing eagerness to kill Palestinians as they do in Gaza—acts allegedly condoned by their commanders.

The editorial centered on the killing of 20-year-old Jassim Al-Sada, a Palestinian youth who was shot dead while sleeping in his bed during a military raid in the village of Jit, Qalqilya Governorate, in late May.

According to Haaretz, Israeli forces stormed the village in the middle of the night, broke into a residential building without any wanted individuals inside, and violently woke residents, including babies and the elderly. One soldier then broke into a private apartment and fired live rounds at Al-Sada from close range while he lay in bed. It is unclear if the young man had woken up before being shot.

Fellow soldiers reportedly pulled the shooter back, yelling, “Why did you shoot, are you crazy?”—but it was too late. Al-Sada died instantly from four bullets to his upper body, while his father was lying in the adjacent room.

The military spokesperson issued only a vague statement saying the incident “would be investigated,” without offering timelines or confirming whether the soldier would be held accountable. Haaretz pointed out that the military police had not even opened a criminal probe, nor was the soldier arrested or suspended.

“This indicates that killing an innocent young man in bed is viewed by top Israeli commanders as routine,” the editorial charged.

The editorial concluded:“In both Gaza and the West Bank, nothing is cheaper in the eyes of the Israeli military than Palestinian lives. This disgraceful incident proves that beyond any doubt.”

It also warned that Israeli military leadership has stripped the phrase “the most moral army in the world” of any meaning and accused the far-right government of actively enabling and accelerating war crimes.