Israel army fails to act after settler fires toward Palestinians with soldier's weapon
Israel army fails to act after settler fires toward Palestinians with soldier's weapon
No referral was made to the police by Israel's army despite the settler using a soldier's firearm to shoot towards Palestinians.
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Israel's army knows who the shooter is [Getty-file photo]
The Israeli army did not refer a case to police about a Jewish settler who fired shots towards Palestinians in the occupied West Bank using a soldier's firearm.
Footage of the attack near the Havat Maon settlement in the South Hebron Hills in June was taken and shared widely in media.
The Israeli army probed the incident saying that the weapon was taken without authorisation and that it was returned to the soldier once the settler had fired it, Haaretz reported on Thursday.
The military discovered the identity of the settler on 26 June - the day the shooting occurred.
The Israeli army's spokesperson initially claimed to Haaretz the military passed details onto the police.
Israeli police later revealed it had not been sent any information with the army then admitting that no referral was made.
The army claimed a "soldier picked up a settler in an army vehicle and asked him for directions".
Upon reaching the location, "stones were thrown at the vehicle", it alleged, asserting "the settler [then] took the soldier's gun and fired into the air".
However, Palestinians who were present claimed the Israeli soldier handed the settler the weapon.
The army referenced the situation's "seriousness" and noted the soldier concerned had been "immediately summoned for questioning by the brigade commander and orders were clarified".
It also confirmed it is aware who the shooter is.
In a separate incident, the Israeli army would not reveal if a soldier videoed shooting towards Palestinians, when one person killed, has faced any action.
The masked Israeli soldier was among troops when the event happened.
The US and UK have condemned an attack carried out by Israeli settler in the West Bank on Palestinians.
— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) October 4, 2021
12 people were injured in the attack, including a three-year-old https://t.co/lKYrwxZ1vY
Israeli settler and security violence is a routine part of life for Palestinians living under illegal occupation.
On Wednesday, Israeli settlers stormed occupied Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, under the protection of Israeli police.
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