Israeli soldiers pushed three apparently lifeless bodies from roofs during a West Bank raid

QABATIYA, West Bank (AP) — Israeli soldiers pushed three apparently lifeless bodies from rooftops during a raid in the northern part of the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to an Associated Press journalist at the scene and video obtained by AP.

An AP journalist in the town of Qabatiya witnessed three soldiers push the bodies off the roofs of adjacent multi-story buildings, sending them falling out of view. It was the latest in a series of suspected violations by Israeli forces since the start of the Israel-Hamas war that rights groups say show a pattern of excessive force toward Palestinians.

“This is a serious incident that does not coincide with IDF values ​​and the expectations from IDF soldiers," the military said in a statement, using the acronym it goes by. "The incident is under review.”

Israel said its troops had killed four militants during operations in Qabatiya on Thursday.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah did not immediately confirm multiple deaths, but said one person had been killed in the town and that Israeli gunfire sent 10 Palestinians to the hospital.

In the video obtained by AP, three soldiers can be seen picking up what appears to be a stiff body and then dragging it toward the edge of a roof as troops stand on the ground below. The soldiers on the roof peer over the edge before heaving the body off.

On an adjacent rooftop, the soldiers hold another apparently lifeless body by its limbs and swing it over the edge. In a third instance, a soldier kicks a body toward the edge before it falls from view. Photos captured by AP during Thursday’s raid show an Israeli army bulldozer moving near the buildings where the bodies were dropped.

Other journalists at the scene also witnessed the bodies being pushed off the roofs.

The identities of the dead and the cause of their deaths were not immediately known.

When withdrawing from raids, the army usually leaves behind any Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire. Occasionally the army brings dead bodies into Israel.

Under international law, soldiers are supposed to ensure dead bodies, including those of enemy combatants, are treated decently.

“There is no military need to do this. It’s just a savage way of treating Palestinian bodies,” said Shawan Jabarin, the director of Palestinian rights group Al-Haq, after watching the footage.

Jabarin said the video was shocking but not surprising, and he was doubtful Israel would properly investigate the incident. The Israeli military rarely prosecutes soldiers in cases of reported harm to Palestinians, rights groups say.

“The most that will happen is that soldiers will be disciplined, but there will be no real investigation and no real prosecution," said Jabarin.

The AP reporter who witnessed the raid saw a blindfolded and shirtless Palestinian man kneeling before an Israeli army jeep and armed soldiers. Smoke billowed from several buildings that appeared damaged.

As the world’s attention focuses on the far more deadly war in Gaza less than 80 miles away, scores of Palestinians have been killed, shot and arrested in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has waged a monthslong crackdown.

Over 700 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by Israeli fire since the war erupted on Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The northern West Bank has seen some of the worst violence since the war’s outbreak.

Israel says the raids are necessary to stamp out militancy, which has flared since Oct. 7. In that time, Palestinian gunmen have attacked Israelis at checkpoints and staged several attacks within Israel.

Earlier this month, Israel staged its deadliest raid into the northern West Bank since the war began, killing at least 33 people.

Frankel reported from Jerusalem. AP reporter Jack Jeffery contributed reporting from Ramallah, West Bank.

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Israeli soldiers look over a rooftop where two lie motionless in the West Bank town of Qatabiya during a raid, Thursday, Sept.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Israeli soldiers look over a rooftop where two bodies lie motionless in the West Bank town of Qatabiya during a raid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - An explosion is seen as three bodies lie motionless on rooftops in the West Bank town of in the West Bank town of Qatabiya during a raid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Israeli soldiers stand near three bodies on rooftops in the West Bank town of Qatabiya during a raid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Three bodies lie motionless on rooftops in the West Bank town of Qatabiya during a Israeli raid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - An explosion is seen as three bodies lie motionless on rooftops in the West Bank town of Qatabiya during a raid, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers star going deep twice to reach the half-century mark and swiping two bags to get to 51 against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.

Ohtani hit his 50th homer in the seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run shot to left against Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. One inning earlier, he hit his 49th, launching a 1-1 slider from George Soriano 438 feet to the second deck in right-center.

He took care of the stolen bases earlier in the game, swiping his 50th in the first and his 51st in the second.

The Japanese star led off the game with double against Edward Cabrera and swiped third on the front end of a double steal with Freddie Freeman, who reached on a walk.

Ohtani has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts.

He reached the milestone in his 150th game. Ohtani was already the sixth player in major league history and the fastest ever to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing just 126 games.

Ohtani's previous career high in homers was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts on the mound and won his first of two AL MVP awards.

Manager Dave Roberts said before Thursday's game that he noticed Ohtani getting more aggressive on the bases in the second half of the season.

“I also think that Shohei realized how good of a base stealer he has become or can become,” Roberts said. “I think he likes the challenge of studying pitchers and learning the tendencies. I think that’s something that intrigues him."

Ohtani's previous career high for steals was 26, also in 2021. He has not pitched this season while recovering from elbow surgery, allowing him to focus his attention on batting and baserunning as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after hitting his 50th home run of the season during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) waves to fans after he hit a home run scoring Andy Pages, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run scoring Andy Pages, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) gestures after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) of Japan, steals third base, for his 50th stolen base of the season, as Miami Marlins third baseman Connor Norby was late with the tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) of Japan, steals third base, for his 50th stolen base of the season, as Miami Marlins third baseman Connor Norby attempts the tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) looks up after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough, left, congratulates Shohei Ohtani (17) after Ohtani hit a home run scoring Andy Pages, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a home run scoring Andy Pages off of Miami Marlins pitcher George Soriano (62) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)