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Israeli soldier suspended for shooting Palestinian at point-blank

Xinhua, March 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

An Israeli soldier was suspended after video footage showed him shot and killed an unarmed Palestinian lying on the ground at point blank, the Israeli army said on Thursday.

The video, shot by an activist of B'Tselem, an organization advocating for human rights in the occupied territories, shows one of the Palestinian attackers, identified by B'Tselem to be Yusri al-Sharif, lying on the ground and moving his head slightly, seemingly injured and no longer armed. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier then shoots him in the head at point-blank.

The Israeli army said in response that an initial investigation of the incident indicates a "serious breach of conduct, contrary to the spirit of the IDF and what is expected from soldiers and commanders."

In its statement, the IDF spokesperson said that a military police investigation has been opened, and the soldier has been dismissed for the time being from his post until the end of the investigation.

B'Tselem said that "executions in the street and without trial" are a result of "instigative rhetoric" of Israeli ministers and public officials.

"The wave of violence which started in October 2015 is horrifying, and it is obvious that security forces should defend the public and use the force necessary to achieve this goal," the organization said in a statement.

"However, the law is clear: shooting in attempt to kill a person is only allowed when that person is putting other peoples' lives at risk," it added.

Criticism was leveled against Israel by human rights groups and the Palestinians, who charge that many of the attackers killed did not pose a threat to lives anymore at the scenes of the attacks.

A wave of violent tension has been going on between Israelis and Palestinians which broke out in early October, 2015, and has left at least 190 Palestinians and 28 Israelis killed.

Israeli leaders say the Palestinian Authority's incitement to violence is the cause for the wave of unrest, whereas the Palestinians charge it is the 49 years of Israeli occupation, and frustration over the hopes of establishing a Palestinian state in the occupied territories. Endit