Palestinian militants kill 2 alleged informers for Israel and mob drags bodies through camp alleys

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In a violent episode in the Tulkarem refugee camp located in the West Bank, two Palestinians, suspected of being informants for Israel, were executed by Palestinian militants. Following their execution early Saturday, the bodies were subjected to public abuse; they were kicked, dragged through the camp’s alleyways, and there were attempts to hang them from an electrical tower. These actions, which were captured and spread via social media, mirrored the turmoil seen during the Palestinian uprisings of 1987 and 2000 against Israeli control, where the public display of alleged informers’ bodies was not uncommon.

This incident, occurring amidst escalating tensions in the region, highlights the deepening crisis within Palestinian communities. The recent upsurge in violence includes numerous casualties in the West Bank, primarily due to Israeli military operations and confrontations with settlers, as well as Palestinian attacks. In the past seven weeks, over 230 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, predominantly during operations against militants.

According to a Palestinian security official, the executed individuals were accused by a local militant faction of collaborating with Israeli forces in a recent significant operation that resulted in the deaths of three key militants. The identities of the deceased, one of whom was from the camp, were confirmed by a second official.

The local militant group, associated with the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade – a faction of the Fatah party – issued a vague statement post the killings. Meanwhile, the family of one of the slain men disowned him in a public statement.

An account from a journalist within the camp detailed the mob’s brutal treatment of the bodies, including failed attempts to hang them and ultimately disposing of them near a U.N. school. Additionally, videos surfaced online purportedly showing the men confessing to collaboration with Israeli intelligence, claiming they were paid for information.

The Israeli security service, Shin Bet, known for recruiting Palestinian informants, has not commented on the incident.

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More about Palestinian-Israeli conflict

• BBC News – Palestinian militants kill alleged informers for Israel in West Bank
• The Washington Post – Palestinian militants kill alleged collaborators with Israel
• Al Jazeera – Palestinian informers killed in West Bank refugee camp
• Reuters – Palestinian militants kill two alleged informers for Israel