The funeral of Amin Khalil Zaarour and Baha Shweiki, two young Palestinians from the town of Silwan in East Jerusalem, was held during the night between Monday and Tuesday. The procession set out from Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount to the old Muslim cemetery of Yusufiya near the Lions’ Gate — and turned into a heated demonstration of solidarity by hundreds of participants with the pain of the families. The families claim that the deaths were not only a tragic result of drowning off Jaffa’s coast, but at least partly also the outcome of alleged reckless and unprofessional conduct by a police patrol boat
Jerusalem district police forces present at the scene showed restraint and refrained from intervening in the funeral procession despite the fiery chants
الأهالي يشاركون فى تشييع جثامين الشابين بهاء شويكي وأمين زعرور من المسجد الأقصى المبارك عقب وفاتهما يوم السبت الماضي إثر انقلاب قارب قبالة شواطئ يافا pic.twitter.com/gg51gb7JvB
— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) August 18, 2025
Investigation into the Jaffa beach drowning
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 16, 2025: the two youths, Amin Khalil Zaarour and Baha Shweiki, residents of Silwan in East Jerusalem, entered the water at Al-Aliya beach in Jaffa. The two, relatives, were part of a group of five young men who got into distress in the sea and began to drown. Family members and beachgoers initially tried to help, and later a police marine boat was called to the scene. After rescue efforts, the deaths of Zaarour and Shweiki were pronounced. Two others were injured, one seriously to moderately, while the fifth was unharmed
Families’ allegations of alleged police recklessness
The incident has sparked major controversy, with the families claiming that the deaths and injuries were caused at least in part by the propeller of the police boat, while the police insist the case is under investigation
Relatives quoted in social media and Palestinian news outlets made severe accusations against the police conduct. A family member told the press: “This is not just a case of drowning, but killing by the police.” He added that the boat allegedly approached at excessive speed and recklessly struck the youths
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Ibrahim Shweiki, the victims’ uncle, said the boat allegedly hit the two youths, and one of the injured even claimed a policeman pushed him back into the water when he tried to cling to the boat. The families further claimed they were asked to sign a document absolving the police of responsibility as a condition for releasing the bodies for burial — and they refused
Israel Police responds: case under investigation
Israel Police issued a statement expressing “deep sorrow over the loss of life and condolences to the family.” The police confirmed there is suspicion that one of the youths was struck by the marine boat’s propeller due to high waves at the scene, but avoided addressing the families’ claims of alleged reckless conduct. The police emphasized the matter is under thorough investigation and said no further details could be provided at this stage so as not to hinder the inquiry
