November 30, 2025: Deadly Israeli Raid in Syria; Ongoing Gaza Strikes; Video Shows IDF Soldiers Shooting Unarmed Palestinians

This week, the death toll in Gaza surpassed 70,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, as Israel continued its military activity in the enclave. In the West Bank, a video showed IDF soldiers executing two unarmed Palestinian militants, raising scrutiny. Israel also attacked southern Syria this week in an altercation with a militant group, resulting in more than a dozen casualties that included women and children.

Since the US-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect in October, Israel has continued striking Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating the agreement. On multiple occasions, Israel has blamed Hamas for firing on IDF soldiers operating inside the area demarcated by the “yellow line” established by the deal. Many of the Israeli strikes have targeted areas inside the line. However, in other instances, Israel has justified its military action by claiming self-defense against Palestinians who cross the line, sometimes unknowingly. At other times, Israel’s attacks have occurred outside the line.

On Saturday, an Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinian children, Fadi and Juma Abu Assi, aged 8 and 11 respectively. The IDF said it had identified two “suspects” crossing the yellow line and carrying out “suspicious activity on the ground,” acting to “to remove the threat.” Their family said that the young brothers had been searching for firewood east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, when they were killed.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, an incriminating video emerged on Thursday showing IDF soldiers fatally shooting two unarmed Palestinian militants. The video portrayed two men, fighters in the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, crawling on the ground, appearing to have surrendered before being killed by the soldiers. The killings took place amid an Israeli military operation in Jenin. The IDF issued a statement saying that “the incident is under review.” Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security, expressed support for the soldiers, commenting, “The fighters acted exactly as expected of them — terrorists must die.” It is widely agreed upon that the execution of unarmed prisoners is a war crime.

On Friday, Israel launched an attack on Beit Jinn, a town in southern Syria. 13 people were killed and 24 injured as an Israeli operation in the village escalated into “face-to-face” combat, according to the IDF. Israel says that it infiltrated Beit Jinn to capture members of Jama’a Islamiya, a Lebanese Islamist militant group, who were planning future attacks on Israel. Two Syrian girls, ages 4 and 17, and a 10-year-old boy were among those killed. Three IDF soldiers were also seriously injured. Since Syrian rebels led by Ahmed al-Sharaa ousted Bashar al-Assad last year, Israel has maintained a military presence in southern Syria. Tensions between Israel and al-Sharaa rose in July when Israel intervened militarily in Syria on behalf of its Druze minority. Yet Israel and Syria have engaged in direct talks on multiple occasions this year, and al-Sharaa recently visited the White House.

Events this week largely continued the trend of ongoing violence in both Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Israeli military activity against surrounding militant groups.