Israel to indict soldier for shooting unarmed Palestinian youth in 2013

More than two years after an Israeli force shot and killed an unarmed Palestinian teen in the West Bank, Israel's State Attorney has decided to indict the shooter for a minor offence of reckless use of a firearm.

Late on Tuesday night, the State Attorney's Office told the family of Samir Awad, who was shot from behind on the separation barrier near the village of Budrus, that it decided to issue an indictment for "a reckless and negligent act using a firearm."

The State Attorney did not note which of the soldiers involved would be prosecuted.

On the morning of Jan. 15, 2013, Awad, 16, was with a group of boys who went back from school after finishing their last exam before the midyear break. According to an investigation by Israeli human rights watchdog B'Tselem, the boys planned to hurl stones at military patrols on the Separation Barrier, as youths in the area often do.

The Israeli military said the teens were "attempting to infiltrate into Israel," and confirmed that soldiers responded with live fire.

According to B'Tselem, Awad went alone through a makeshift opening and was caught by soldiers who were concealed in a nearby ambush. As he was trying to run away, soldiers shot him at his leg and then, after wounding him, also at his back and head.

Military Police completed an investigation into the incident, yet reached no decision on legal procedures. The boy's father, Ahmad Awad, and B'Tselem petitioned the Supreme Court to force the State Attorney to decide whether to indict the soldiers.

An official with the State Attorney's Office told Xinhua on Wednesday that the procrastination was due to inconclusive conclusions on the identity of the shooter, or shooters.

"Two soldiers opened fire but we cannot tell for sure who actually hit the boy," the source said, adding that the family's refusal to cooperate with the Israeli investigation also contributed to the delay.

"Both soldiers acted in violation of fire regulations so we decided to indict them both, pending a pre-indictment hearing," the official added.

B'Tselem slammed the decision as "a new low in Israeli authorities' disregard for the lives of Palestinians."

B'Tselem said that the minor indictment of reckless use of firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment, sends soldiers in the occupied West Bank a message saying, "If you kill an unarmed Palestinian who poses no threat, we will do everything to cover it up and ensure impunity."

"Killing a wounded, fleeing youth who posed no threat by shooting him in the back is not a 'reckless and negligent act'," said the watchdog. "The disparity between the grave action and the minor offense is incomprehensible and outrageous," it added. Endit