Dismissal, reprimand following Palestinian girl's killing
Nahshon battalion's company commander reprimanded after killing of 14-year-old Palestinian girl in Pharaoun. Platoon commander dismissed, shooting soldier suspended until CID investigation complete
Naveh also ordered a reprimand be noted in the battalion's company commander's personal file.
As for the soldier who actually shot the girl, it was decided that his suspension from all activity would continue, until the criminal investigation division's investigation was completed.
The investigation has revealed severe shortcomings in the force's performance.
Last week, 14-year-old Da'a Abdelkader was killed during Nahshon battalion's activity in Pharaoun.
Sensors in the security fence section near the West Bank village of Pharaoun just south of Tulkarm alarmed an IDF base in the area that the fence had been approached and a force was dispatched to inspect.
A force identified two Kaffiyeh-clad figures near the fence and a soldier opened fire, killing the girl. The soldier told his officer that he was sure the figure was a suicide bomber.
Da'a was rushed to the Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikva suffering from serious wounds. She died in hospital. Another girl was mildly wounded and was taken to a Nablus hospital by Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics where her light wounds were treated.
B'Tselem: Publish IDF's rules of engagement
After this difficult incident, sources in Pharaoun said that Israel added sin to crime when it prevented Da'a's father Naser, who was incarcerated, from participating in her funeral.Eventually Naser was allowed to be present during the mourning period.
In a phone call to Ynet, he said from the holding cell: "The fact that they didn’t let me see her, means that they have killed my daughter twice. They have also killed me twice, first when they killed her and then when they didn’t let me see her. Now they are willing to let me see her, but where will I see her? What is it worth that they are allowing me to get out and see her now?"
Following the incident the battalion and the division's commanders have opened investigations, as has the military police.
In response to the incident, B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, demanded the IDF immediately publish its rules of engagement, and prove that the rules of engagement in the area of the separation fence do not allow firing towards civilians.
Military sources explained to Ynet that in such an instance – if the force feels it is under threat – then the source that is authorized to allow opening fire is the commander in the field.
In an instance where the soldiers' lives are in immediate danger, they are authorized to fire even without permission.
