Press Release on the Serious Events in Tubas and Jenin
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) is closely monitoring the serious developments that took place in Tubas Governorate and the city of Jenin on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. These developments resulted in civilian casualties and caused a state of tension and societal unrest.

In Tubas Governorate, specifically in Al-Far’a Refugee Camp, 18-year-old Rami Zahran was killed after being shot by a Palestinian security force dressed in civilian clothing. According to an official statement from the spokesperson for the Palestinian security forces, the unit was subjected to direct gunfire by unknown assailants, posing a threat to their lives and prompting them to respond to the source of fire by rules of engagement. However, eyewitnesses and the family of Zahran denied the occurrence of any armed clash at the scene, asserting that the security personnel were in civilian clothes and their identity was unknown at the time of the operation. The Governor of Tubas announced the formation of an internal fact-finding committee by instructions from the Palestinian leadership immediately following the incident to investigate its circumstances.

On the same day, a joint Palestinian security force surrounded the home of Raed Abu Surour, who was wanted by the security services, in the city of Jenin. According to eyewitnesses, heavy gunfire was exchanged by security personnel during the raid, causing significant damage to surrounding buildings, injuring a young girl, and leading to the death of 65-year-old Faisal Khalil Sabaaneh, who was shot in the head while inside his vehicle near the location. He was transferred to Jenin Governmental Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

A formal statement by the spokesperson for the Palestinian security forces claimed that the unit was attacked by armed individuals and responded to the source of fire, which also damaged several police vehicles. The statement asserted that Sabaaneh’s fatal injury resulted from the gunfire of the armed individuals, not from security personnel.

The ICHR notes that these regrettable incidents are not isolated, as similar events have recurred in recent months, especially since the launch of the security campaign in Jenin refugee camp. Several citizens have been killed in similar circumstances, with official bodies often denying responsibility or justifying the use of force by citing exposure to gunfire. According to the ICHR’s monitoring, no transparent investigations have been conducted in these cases, nor have any findings been made public or officials held accountable thus far.

The recurrence of such incidents without accountability demands a serious and comprehensive review of oversight and accountability mechanisms within the security services, especially in severe cases involving fatalities or serious injuries.

ICHR calls on the relevant official bodies, particularly the civil and military prosecution authorities, to conduct transparent investigations into the incidents above and hold accountable all those proven to have violated the law or rules of engagement. The ICHR also urges the publication of investigation results in all cases involving the use of live fire that resulted in casualties, whether among civilians or security personnel. Furthermore, the ICHR calls on all parties—security agencies, citizens, and community actors—to respect the law and uphold civil peace, especially during these exceptional circumstances facing the Palestinian people, particularly the ongoing aggression and genocide in the Gaza Strip and the escalating Israeli actions in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.