Killing of Abdel Fattah al-Sharif
| Killing of Abdel Fattah al-Sharif | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015–2016) | |
| Date | 24 March 2016 |
| Deaths | 2 (1 attacker shot before the incident) |
| Injured | 1 (Israeli soldier wounded before the incident) |
| Victim | Abdel Fattah al-Sharif |
| Perpetrator | Elor Azaria |
| Verdict | Found guilty |
| Convictions | 18 months' imprisonment, 12 months' probation, rank demotion |
| Charges | Manslaughter |
On March 24, 2016, Elor Azaria, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, fatally shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, a Palestinian, in the head as the latter lay wounded on the ground in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Hebron. Al-Sharif had stabbed an Israeli soldier. Azaria was arrested and the Israeli Military Police opened an investigation against him for the charge of murder, but later reduced the charge to manslaughter.
The soldier's act sparked widespread public debate in Israel, that became a continuation of an already widespread debate over how one should implement the rules of engagement orders in the wake of the wave of Palestinian political violence.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, twelve months' probation, plus a demotion in rank. He was released from prison after serving nine months. The Palestinian Authority said the trial of Azaria was a farce. The family of al-Sharif, which had demanded Azaria receive a life-sentence, pointed out the Israeli military gives harsher sentences to Palestinian children convicted of throwing stones.