«Israeli» Forces Could Have Avoided Murders!

Local Editor

Reviews of shootings in which "Israeli" Occupation Forces [IOF] martyred a knife-wielding Palestinian and another throwing stones found the use of deadly violence could have been avoided, "Israeli" public radio reported Tuesday.

An "Israeli" military spokesman confirmed the cases had been looked into as part of routine procedure, but was unable to comment on the reported findings.
It was unclear if the officers involved would face further action.

Citing an internal army document, the radio said border police under the command of the military fired a hail of bullets when they martyred a Palestinian woman on October 19 whom they alleged had a knife.

They initially followed regulations, firing warning shots into the air followed by a single round at the 19-year-old's legs when she failed to stop at the Tapuah junction in the northern West Bank.

Four officers then fired more than 30 rounds at her, said the report.

Video footage that emerged of the shooting appeared to show four officers firing after she was already on the ground.

Another case reviewed was that of the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Palestinian stone thrower Khaled Bahar the following day near the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil [Hebron].

The "Israeli" entity's public radio said the army review reported that the shooting occurred after a patrol pursued young Palestinians who had stoned a passing "Israeli" bus.

"One of the youths tried to throw a stone at short range at the force commander who shot and killed him," the report said.

"According to the inquiry there was no danger to life [to the commander]. He should not have fired at the central body mass in order to kill."

An army spokesman confirmed that those and other recent cases not resulting in fatalities had been looked at as part of routine procedure.

"It was an operational review to inspect and improve our performance on the ground," spokesman Arye Shalicar told AFP.

He would not confirm the review's reported findings but said military police automatically investigate fatalities and it was for them to decide if there had been improper behavior.

The IOF had been accused of using disproportionate force in a number of cases over the past year.

An "Israeli" soldier is on trial for manslaughter after video emerged showing him shoot a wounded Palestinian in the head in March as he lay on the ground without seeming to pose any further threat.

The "Israeli" police were also criticized for the shooting of a Palestinian teenage girl involved in a stabbing operation with scissors in November 2015.

Footage appeared to show an officer shoot the girl again as she was already on the ground.

According to an AFP count, 235 Palestinians had been martyred by "Israeli" violence since October 2015.

Most of the Palestinians martyred were allegedly carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming operations, according to "Israeli" regime's authorities.

Others were martyred during protests or clashes, while some were martyred in "Israeli" air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team