Recently surfaced footage captures an Israeli soldier singing a Hanukkah song through the loudspeaker of a Jenin mosque in the occupied West Bank. In the video released by Haaretz, the mosque appears to broadcast the Hanukkah song “We Came to Banish the Darkness.”
Another video shows an Israeli soldier seated on the mosque floor, utilising a microphone typically used for the Islamic call to prayer. Mockingly, he declares, “In the name of God, the merciful. Here is the spokesperson of the IDF.” The soldier proceeds to assert control over the area, stating, “For the residents of the camp, the story is over. We will not allow the presence of armed men inside the camp. The future will be clean, and we want you to live with dignity. There is no power beyond the power of Allah.”
In response to the videos, an Israeli army spokesperson informed local media that “the soldiers were removed from operational duty immediately after receiving the videos and conducting an initial inspection of the incident by the commanders. The behaviour depicted in the videos is serious and contradicts the values of the IDF. The soldiers will face disciplinary action accordingly,” the spokesperson stated.
Earlier this week, the Israeli army initiated a large-scale raid on Jenin City and its refugee camp. The ongoing incursion has resulted in the deaths of at least eight Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy allegedly prevented from reaching a hospital by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Among those killed, four were victims of a drone strike. Israel claims to have targeted individuals affiliated with armed groups, while witnesses assert that the men were not armed.
