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Israel Suspends Soldier in West Bank Shooting Investigation Israel Suspends Soldier in West Bank Shooting Investigation
(about 1 hour later)
The Israeli military suspended a soldier who was captured on video this month firing his rifle at protesters in the occupied West Bank. Video evidence showed that the soldier fired his weapon within seconds of a Palestinian boy’s collapsing to the ground with what proved to be a fatal gunshot wound.The Israeli military suspended a soldier who was captured on video this month firing his rifle at protesters in the occupied West Bank. Video evidence showed that the soldier fired his weapon within seconds of a Palestinian boy’s collapsing to the ground with what proved to be a fatal gunshot wound.
As the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Wednesday, the suspended soldier, seen in video recorded by a CNN producer, was a member of a communications unit assigned to document the work of combat troops and border police deployed to contain a demonstration in the West Bank town of Beitunia, near Israel’s Ofer Prison, on May 15. The CNN video appeared to show that another shot was fired by a different soldier who was standing near the first soldier on a hillside above the protesters. As the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Wednesday, the suspended soldier, seen in video recorded by a CNN producer, was a member of a communications unit assigned to document the work of combat troops and border police deployed to contain a demonstration in the West Bank town of Beitunia, near Israel’s Ofer Prison, on May 15. The CNN video appeared to show that another shot was fired by a police officer who was standing near the soldier on a hillside above the protesters.
Just seconds after those shots were fired, the CNN camera panned to show demonstrators and medics in a frantic scramble to evacuate the wounded protester, 17-year-old Nadeem Siam Nawara, who died a short time later.Just seconds after those shots were fired, the CNN camera panned to show demonstrators and medics in a frantic scramble to evacuate the wounded protester, 17-year-old Nadeem Siam Nawara, who died a short time later.
Another young man, Mohammad Mahmoud Odeh Salameh, 16, was shot and killed later the same afternoon in the same location. The boys were part of a protest on Nakba Day, an annual commemoration of the “catastrophe” suffered by the Palestinian community in 1948, when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven from their homes by Israeli forces fighting to establish a Jewish state. Another young man, Mohammad Mahmoud Odeh Salameh, 16, was shot and killed later the same afternoon in the same location. The boys were part of a protest on Nakba Day, an annual commemoration of what Palestinians call the “catastrophe” suffered by their community in 1948, when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven from their homes by Israeli forces fighting to establish a Jewish state.
Security-camera footage recorded throughout the demonstration from a nearby building appeared to show that neither of the boys was engaged in violence when he was shot, although witnesses said that both had hurled rocks in the direction of Israeli soldiers earlier that afternoon.Security-camera footage recorded throughout the demonstration from a nearby building appeared to show that neither of the boys was engaged in violence when he was shot, although witnesses said that both had hurled rocks in the direction of Israeli soldiers earlier that afternoon.
An Israeli security official who requested anonymity to comment on a continuing investigation told The Times that the soldier had been suspended from his position for firing his weapon without authorization. The official insisted, however, that the soldier had fired only rubber bullets, not live ammunition.An Israeli security official who requested anonymity to comment on a continuing investigation told The Times that the soldier had been suspended from his position for firing his weapon without authorization. The official insisted, however, that the soldier had fired only rubber bullets, not live ammunition.
Doctors who examined the boys before their burials reported that they were both killed by gunshot wounds through their chests.Doctors who examined the boys before their burials reported that they were both killed by gunshot wounds through their chests.
Rajai Abu Khalil, an emergency-room doctor who attempted to save the life of Nadeem, the boy who was hit within seconds of the shot fired by the suspended soldier, told the American journalist Ben Ehrenreich that he had no doubt that the boy was killed by live fire. “There were exit wounds,” the doctor recalled. When he opened Nadeem’s chest, “his heart was just destroyed,” he said.Rajai Abu Khalil, an emergency-room doctor who attempted to save the life of Nadeem, the boy who was hit within seconds of the shot fired by the suspended soldier, told the American journalist Ben Ehrenreich that he had no doubt that the boy was killed by live fire. “There were exit wounds,” the doctor recalled. When he opened Nadeem’s chest, “his heart was just destroyed,” he said.
The footage broadcast by CNN last week appeared to show another soldier taking the suspended soldier’s rifle away from him just after he fired it during the incident. The report also showed what Nadeem’s father, Siam, said was a spent bullet he found in his dead son’s backpack.The footage broadcast by CNN last week appeared to show another soldier taking the suspended soldier’s rifle away from him just after he fired it during the incident. The report also showed what Nadeem’s father, Siam, said was a spent bullet he found in his dead son’s backpack.
Mr. Nawara later told The Electronic Intifada, a pro-Palestinian website, that he had refused to give the bullet to local officials because he was hoping for a credible investigation by an international body. “We want to move forward according to international human rights law, and the Palestinian Authority does not have the means to undertake the investigation our son deserves,” he said.Mr. Nawara later told The Electronic Intifada, a pro-Palestinian website, that he had refused to give the bullet to local officials because he was hoping for a credible investigation by an international body. “We want to move forward according to international human rights law, and the Palestinian Authority does not have the means to undertake the investigation our son deserves,” he said.
In response to claims from current and former Israeli officials that footage recorded by security cameras at the scene was edited in a misleading way in a video report produced by the rights group Defense for Children International, or even “forged,” the Israeli organization B’Tselem posted hours of unedited video on YouTube.In response to claims from current and former Israeli officials that footage recorded by security cameras at the scene was edited in a misleading way in a video report produced by the rights group Defense for Children International, or even “forged,” the Israeli organization B’Tselem posted hours of unedited video on YouTube.
One of those long clips shows that the desperate scramble to save Nadeem began right away and that he was carried from the scene just seven seconds after he was shot.One of those long clips shows that the desperate scramble to save Nadeem began right away and that he was carried from the scene just seven seconds after he was shot.