«Israeli» Soldier Gets One-Month Jail over Killing of Gaza Teen

By Staff, Agencies

A military court in the “Israeli” entity has sentenced an “Israeli” soldier to one month in jail over the killing of a Palestinian teenager after he opened fire without authorization, the army said Wednesday.

The unnamed soldier was convicted Monday for "acting without authorization in a manner endangering to life and well-being", it said in a statement.

Othman Rami Halles, 15, was shot dead during the “Great March of Return” protests on the Gaza border on July 13, 2018, the Palestinian health ministry said at the time.

The army said a probe had found that "the soldier fired at a Palestinian rioter who was climbing on the security fence between ‘Israel’ and the Gaza Strip".

The soldier, identified in “Israeli” media as a sniper, had opened fire "not in accordance with the rules of engagement and not in accordance with the instructions he had received", it said.

After a plea bargain, the court sentenced the soldier to 30 days in prison with military labor and a suspended term of another 60 days, and he was demoted.

The investigation had found no evidence of a "causal link between the soldier's fire" and the teenager's death, the army said.

At least 311 Palestinians have been martyred by “Israeli” fire in Gaza since protests were launched along the border of the “Israeli”-blockaded enclave in March 2018, the majority during the demonstrations and clashes.