The emergence of video clips of some Israeli soldiers seen singing and mocking the Islamic call to prayer over the loudspeaker of a mosque in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank prompted the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to condemn the behaviour of the soldiers.
The incident happened during a three-day operation in the occupied West Bank.
Video footage circulating on social media captures the soldiers inside the mosque, where one of them recites a Jewish prayer mimicking the Islamic call to prayer. Another clip features a Hebrew prayer associated with the Jewish festival of Hanukkah being broadcast through a mosque's minaret.
An IDF soldier is seen sitting on the mosque floor, using a microphone to deliver the Islamic call to prayer with a sarcastic introduction: "In the name of God, the merciful. Here is the spokesperson of the IDF."
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the actions, denouncing what it described as a mockery of the religious sanctum. The IDF responded to the incident, acknowledging the severity of the soldiers' behaviour.
According to a military statement, the soldiers involved have been immediately removed from operational activity, and disciplinary measures will be taken.
This controversy adds fuel to the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian communities. The IDF's intensified operations in the West Bank, aimed at countering Palestinian militant groups, have resulted in the death of 12 Palestinians, including an unarmed 17-year-old shot inside the Khalil Suleiman hospital compound, according to medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
The Israeli military has been increasing its presence in the West Bank, citing the need to combat terrorism. The recent operation, which began on Tuesday, reportedly involved the dismantling of bomb laboratories, underground tunnel shafts, and explosive devices.
However, the military's actions have faced criticism for their impact on civilian life, with witnesses reporting exchanges of gunfire, detonations of homemade explosive devices, and damage to infrastructure.
One disturbing aspect of the situation is the claim that ambulances were not allowed to enter the Jenin refugee camp to transport seriously ill patients. Mahmoud Al-Saadi, the director of the Palestinian Red Crescent in the northern West Bank city, expressed frustration, stating that the army did not permit their entry and that soldiers were stationed outside the hospital.
While the IDF did not respond to specific inquiries about the shooting of the unarmed 17-year-old, the incident further raised concern about the use of lethal force in the region. The international community continues to closely monitor developments as the conflict escalates, with calls for a peaceful resolution gaining momentum.