Palestinian Shot, Beaten, and Tied to Israeli Army Jeep; Army States He Posed No Threat
When Mujahid Abadi stepped outside to check if Israeli forces had entered his uncle’s neighborhood, he was shot in the arm and foot, marking the beginning of a harrowing ordeal. Hours later, beaten and bloodied, he was strapped to the scorching hood of an Israeli military jeep as it drove down a road. Initially labeled a suspected militant by the army, it was later admitted that Abadi posed no threat and was merely caught in crossfire.
A video of the 24-year-old tied to the jeep went viral on social media, leading to widespread condemnation, including from the United States. Critics argued it showed Israeli soldiers using Abadi as a human shield, an accusation Israel frequently makes against Hamas in Gaza. The military is investigating the incident, stating it does not reflect their values. However, Palestinians view it as another example of brutality in Israel’s intensified crackdown on the West Bank, which has seen increased violence since Hamas’ October 7 attack ignited the Gaza war.
Speaking from a hospital bed, Abadi recounted stepping outside his uncle’s house in Jenin after hearing a commotion. When he saw the army and tried to return inside, he was hit by heavy gunfire, injuring both him and his cousin. His father, Raed Abadi, described the fear and confusion he felt when he lost contact with his son and saw false reports of a Palestinian death online, fearing it was Mujahid.
After hours of suffering, Israeli soldiers found Abadi, beat him, and dragged him onto the hood of a military jeep. Despite his screams from the heat, a soldier cursed at him and told him to be quiet. The military claimed they tied Abadi to the jeep to transport him to paramedics. However, Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent, stated that the army had blocked paramedics from accessing the wounded for at least an hour. Dashboard camera footage showed the jeep passing two ambulances before releasing Abadi to paramedics after half an hour.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called the video “shocking” and urged the Israeli military to investigate and hold those responsible accountable, emphasizing that civilians should never be used as human shields. Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as shields in Gaza, blaming the group for the high civilian death toll. Over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, with Israel conducting near-nightly raids in the West Bank, resulting in over 550 Palestinian deaths. Rights groups highlight Israel’s own history of using Palestinians as human shields during military operations in the territories it captured in 1967, which Palestinians seek for their future state.