Scene of the attack
Photo: AFP
IDF to question officers at scene of shooting of neutralized terrorist
Soldier claims terrorist moved, leading him to fear he was about to detonate a bomb; military's Criminal Investigation Division to also examine whether troops operated according to procedures as no one checked the terrorist for explosives, nor did he receive medical treatment.
The IDF's Criminal Investigation Division (CID) will question the two military officers who were at the scene of the incident in which a soldier shot a neutralized terrorist
in Hebron on Thursday.
The terrorist, Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, along with another attacker, stabbed an IDF soldier and then both were gunned down by other soldiers.
A video filmed by a B'Tselem volunteer several minutes later shows a-Sharif lying on the ground motionless as an IDF soldier aims his weapon at him and shoots him in the head.
In addition to the soldier, who was suspended and could face criminal charges, commanders in the battalion could also face disciplinary action.
Video of the incident filmed by B'Tselem (צילום: עימאד אבו שמסייה. מתנדב בצלם בחברון)
Friends and family of the soldier are worried that the IDF, fearing wide scale international condemnation, will make the soldier into a scapegoat and hand out "disproportional" punishments to him and the junior commanders involved.
The soldier's line of defense, which is also supported by a new video that emerged from the incident, is that a-Sharif moved before being shot, which led the soldier to fear he would detonate a bomb. This fear later turned out to be unfounded as no explosives were found on a-Sharif.
Second video showing the terrorist moving before being shot
The soldier's family came out in his defense, saying he's an "excellent fighter and an army medic."
The soldier's lawyer, Benjamin Malka, said: "You can clearly see in the video that the terrorist moves, and that the terrorist is wearing a coat that could conceal an explosive vest and other explosives underneath."
He went on to say that "This is a process that is at its start. Things have yet to be examined in depth and I am saddened to see that a public trial had been held before the suspect has been given the right to defend his innocence."
The IDF is frustrated by the incident, which is why the CID was quick to arrest the fighter.
In addition to the question of the legality of the shooting, the CID is looking into suspicions that the troops at the scene were not operating according to procedures. In cases of an incident with wounded on both sides, the first to be treated are those more seriously wounded - but the medical team cannot start treating the terrorist before the troops ensure he is not carrying explosives.
After the attack in Hebron, the terrorist did not receive medical treatment after being shot down, but the soldiers didn't check him for explosives either. He was lying on the ground with gunshot wounds for several minutes without anyone having approached him to treat him or check for explosive, while two civilian ambulances were nearby.
