Killing of David Ben Avraham: Difference between revisions
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| partof = the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] |
| partof = the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] |
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| image = File:David Ben Avraham raising his hands moments before his killing.jpg |
| image = File:David Ben Avraham raising his hands moments before his killing.jpg |
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| caption = Snapshot of footage from the Israeli reservist's body camera, showing Ben Avraham with his hands on his head |
| caption = Snapshot of footage from the Israeli reservist's body camera, showing Ben Avraham with his hands on his head moments before he was shot. |
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| map = {{Location map|West Bank |
| map = {{Location map|West Bank |
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| lat_deg = 31.66 |
| lat_deg = 31.66 |
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| float = center |
| float = center |
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| caption = {{align|center|Location in the [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli-occupied West Bank]]}} |
| caption = {{align|center|Location in the [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli-occupied West Bank]]}} |
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| location = [[Elazar]] |
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| date = 21 March 2024 |
| date = 21 March 2024 |
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| coordinates = {{coord|31|39|36|N|35|8|31|E|display=inline,title}} |
| coordinates = {{coord|31|39|36|N|35|8|31|E|display=inline,title}} |
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{{Use Oxford spelling|date=April 2024}} |
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=April 2024}} |
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On 21 March 2024, '''David Ben Avraham''' ({{ |
On 21 March 2024, '''David Ben Avraham''' ({{Langx|he|דוד בן אברהם}}), a 63-year-old [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] [[Conversion to Judaism|Jewish convert]], was shot and killed by an [[Israel Defence Forces]] (IDF) soldier near [[Elazar (Israeli settlement)|Elazar]], an [[Israeli settlement]] in the [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli-occupied West Bank]].<ref name="AFP">{{cite web |date=21 March 2024 |title=Israeli forces kill Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank: Spokesman |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/03/21/Israeli-forces-kill-Palestinian-convert-to-Judaism-in-West-Bank-Spokesman |accessdate=31 March 2024 |work=AFP |publisher=Al Arabiya}}</ref> The soldier had approached Ben Avraham and asked whether he was Jewish, to which he responded affirmatively. In the ensuing encounter, the soldier pointed his rifle at Ben Avraham and threatened to kill him if he reached for his bag; Ben Avraham complied but was nevertheless shot dead.<ref name="toi1"/> |
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The IDF opened an investigation into what it termed a "grave" incident; the soldier, a [[Reserve duty (Israel)|reservist]], was released a week later by an Israeli court.<ref name="haaretz11"/> ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' stated that the killing joined a series of "wrongful mistaken killings" of [[Israeli Jews|Jewish Israelis]] and [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab Israelis]] since the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]] "in which, to date, the prosecution and courts have been extremely lenient on the killers."<ref name=":1" /> |
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Originally '''Sameh Zaytoun''' ({{ |
Originally '''Sameh Zaytoun''' ({{Langx|ar|سامح زيتون}}), Ben Avraham was a resident of [[Hebron]] and had changed his name upon converting from Islam to Judaism. Following his conversion, he was jailed by the [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] for 58 days in 2019. The Israeli government repeatedly denied his applications for Israeli citizenship, which ''[[The Times of Israel]]'' stated was "ostensibly due to his Palestinian heritage."<ref name="toi1"/> On 29{{Nbsp}}March, [[Israeli Interior Minister]] [[Moshe Arbel]] posthumously approved Ben Avraham's residency status.<ref name="toi1" /> |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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⚫ | Born '''Sameh Muhammad Abd al-Rai Zaytoun''' ({{Langx|ar|سامح محمد عبد الراي زيتون}}),<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=21 March 2024 |title=IDF probing fatal shooting of Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/suspicious-palestinian-shot-and-killed-at-west-bank-bus-stop-knife-found-in-bag/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329085539/https://www.timesofisrael.com/suspicious-palestinian-shot-and-killed-at-west-bank-bus-stop-knife-found-in-bag/ |archive-date=29 March 2024 |access-date=3 April 2024 |website=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref><ref name="MiddleEastMonitor">{{Cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=Video shows an Israeli soldier questioning a 63-year-old Palestinian man if he is Jewish before shooting him |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240329-video-shows-an-israeli-soldier-questioning-a-63-year-old-palestinian-man-if-he-is-jewish-before-shooting-him/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331121003/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240329-video-shows-an-israeli-soldier-questioning-a-63-year-old-palestinian-man-if-he-is-jewish-before-shooting-him/ |archive-date=31 March 2024 |access-date=3 April 2024 |website=[[Middle East Monitor]]}}</ref> Ben Avraham had converted to [[Judaism]] from [[Islam]] a number of years ago in honour of his grandfather, who had saved 25 Jews during the [[1929 Hebron massacre]]. Zaytoun's attempts to formalize his conversion were rebuffed several times by Israeli authorities until he eventually succeeded in the Israeli city of [[Bnei Brak]], where he changed his name to David Ben Avraham. After his conversion, Ben Avraham's applications for Israeli citizenship had been repeatedly denied, which ''[[The Times of Israel]]'' stated may have been because he was Palestinian.<ref name="mee" /><ref name="toi1"/> Avraham was a resident of [[Hebron]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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⚫ | Born '''Sameh Muhammad Abd al-Rai Zaytoun''' ({{ |
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In 2019, Ben Avraham was arrested and jailed by the [[Palestinian Authority]] for 58 days in Hebron, where he was reportedly tortured by guards and attacked and beaten by other inmates after they discovered that he had [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]].<ref name="mee" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kampeas |first=Ron |date=2024-03-22 |title=IDF is investigating after troops kill Palestinian who converted to Judaism to honor his grandfather, who rescued Jews |url=https://www.jta.org/2024/03/22/israel/idf-is-investigating-after-troops-kill-palestinian-who-converted-to-judaism-to-honor-his-grandfather-who-rescued-jews |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> Palestinian religious figures also visited him in prison to convince him to retract his conversion, but he declined.<ref name="mee">{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-converted-judaism-shot-dead-by-israel-reservist|work=Middle East Eye|title=Palestinian who converted to Judaism shot dead by Israeli soldier in West Bank|accessdate=31 March 2024|date=21 March 2024}}</ref> A number of Israelis rallied for his release, including a resident of Hebron who organized a hunger strike for two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palestinian who converted to Judaism mistakenly killed by IDF |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/03/21/palestinian-who-converted-to-judaism-mistakenly-killed-by-idf/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.israelhayom.com}}</ref> Another fundraised for his bail, which was disbursed to a Hebron Palestinian court.<ref name=":3" /> Following his release from prison, Israeli first responders picked him up from the prison in a wheelchair.<ref name=":0" /> |
In 2019, Ben Avraham was arrested and jailed by the [[Palestinian Authority]] for 58 days in Hebron, where he was reportedly tortured by guards and attacked and beaten by other inmates after they discovered that he had [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]].<ref name="mee" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kampeas |first=Ron |date=2024-03-22 |title=IDF is investigating after troops kill Palestinian who converted to Judaism to honor his grandfather, who rescued Jews |url=https://www.jta.org/2024/03/22/israel/idf-is-investigating-after-troops-kill-palestinian-who-converted-to-judaism-to-honor-his-grandfather-who-rescued-jews |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> Palestinian religious figures also visited him in prison to convince him to retract his conversion, but he declined.<ref name="mee">{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-converted-judaism-shot-dead-by-israel-reservist|work=Middle East Eye|title=Palestinian who converted to Judaism shot dead by Israeli soldier in West Bank|accessdate=31 March 2024|date=21 March 2024}}</ref> A number of Israelis rallied for his release, including a resident of Hebron who organized a hunger strike for two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palestinian who converted to Judaism mistakenly killed by IDF |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/03/21/palestinian-who-converted-to-judaism-mistakenly-killed-by-idf/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.israelhayom.com}}</ref> Another fundraised for his bail, which was disbursed to a Hebron Palestinian court.<ref name=":3" /> Following his release from prison, Israeli first responders picked him up from the prison in a wheelchair.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Killing== |
==Killing== |
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⚫ | According to available CCTV and bodycam footage reported on by '' |
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⚫ | According to available CCTV and bodycam footage reported on by ''The Times of Israel'', Ben Avraham exited a taxi on the morning of 21 March 2024 near the settlement of [[Elazar (Israeli settlement)|Elazar]] in the [[Israeli-occupied territories|Israeli-occupied]] [[West Bank]].<ref name="toi1"/> A [[Reserve duty (Israel)|reservist]] of the [[Israel Defence Forces]] (IDF) then approached him and a confrontation ensued between the two.<ref name="AFP" /><ref>{{cite web |date=21 March 2024 |title=فيديو يُظهر لحظة قتل جندي إسرائيلي فلسطينيا "يهوديا" (فيديو) |url=https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/palestine/2024/3/30/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%8A%D8%B8%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A |accessdate=31 March 2024 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=Arabic}}</ref> During the exchange, the reservist did not appear to believe that Ben Avraham was Jewish. Ben Avraham reached for his bag and was stopped by the reservist who said, "Touch that and I'll kill you, do you understand me?" The reservist then ordered Ben Avraham to put his hands up. Another video from the incident showed Ben Avraham with his hands on his head seconds before he was shot.<ref name=":3" /> |
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⚫ | ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' reported that Ben Avraham did not do anything suspicious other than get off |
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⚫ | ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' reported that Ben Avraham did not do anything suspicious other than get off the bus at a stop that Palestinians did not typically use.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-792999|work=Jerusalem Post|title=IDF probes soldiers for mistakenly killing Palestinian convert to Judaism|date=21 March 2024|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref> A knife was later found in Ben Avraham's bag, but ''The Times of Israel'' reported that there was no evidence that he posed a threat. The IDF opened an investigation into what it called a "grave incident".<ref name="toi1">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/disturbing-video-shows-jewish-convert-fatally-shot-by-idf-in-west-bank-posed-no-threat/|title=Disturbing video shows Jewish convert fatally shot by IDF in West Bank posed no threat|work=Times of Israel|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/03/21/palestinian-who-converted-to-judaism-mistakenly-killed-by-idf/|work=Israel Hayom|title=Palestinian who converted to Judaism mistakenly killed by IDF|date=21 March 2024|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref> Noam Arnon, a friend of Ben Avraham’s and a Hebron spokesperson, said that Ben Avraham carried the knife in his bag for self-defense.<ref name=":3" /> |
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⚫ | The reservist's attorneys opined that "we do not doubt that the investigation will clarify the chain of events and the case [of David Ben Avraham] will end with an additional excellence award awarded to the soldier".<ref name="toi1" /> The attorneys also said that the soldier "recently was honored for his bravery in thwarting the ramming attack that took place about three weeks ago in [[Gush Etzion]]."<ref name="toi1" /> Israeli law does not allow use of lethal force in cases where an arrest is easily achievable.<ref name=":1" /> |
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⚫ | The reservist's attorneys opined that "we do not doubt that the investigation will clarify the chain of events and the case [of David Ben Avraham] will end with an additional excellence award awarded to the soldier".<ref name="toi1" /> The attorneys also said that the soldier "recently was honored for his bravery in thwarting the ramming attack that took place about three weeks ago in [[Gush Etzion]]."<ref name="toi1" /> Israeli law does not allow use of lethal force in cases where an arrest is easily achievable.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.news.cn/20240322/79d029fcd8e6448b89c2a9debadd3ec9/c.html|title=Israeli army kills 6 Palestinians in West Bank: sources|work=Xinhau|date=21 March 2024|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The reservist was detained by authorities. He was released a week later by the order of an Israeli military court judge, who said that the reservist had several reasons to believe that Ben Avraham |
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⚫ | The reservist was detained by authorities. He was released a week later by the order of an Israeli military court judge, who said that the reservist had several reasons to believe that Ben Avraham was a "terrorist". The Israeli judge said that Ben Avraham exited a taxi with Palestinian license plates near a settlement; that he told the reservist that he was going to Jerusalem despite not having a permit to enter Jerusalem; that he spoke Hebrew with an Arabic accent; that soldiers had been warned of potential "terrorist" activity; and that he had lowered his hands.<ref name="haaretz11">{{cite news |last1=Kubovich |first1=Yaniv |last2=Shezaf |first2=Hagar |title=Military court releases reservist who fatally shot a Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-03-27/ty-article-live/israeli-hostage-uriel-baruch-was-killed-on-oct-7-body-held-by-hamas-in-gaza-family-says/0000018e-7dc0-d680-a1cf-ffc7736c0000 |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240403083314/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-03-27/ty-article-live/israeli-hostage-uriel-baruch-was-killed-on-oct-7-body-held-by-hamas-in-gaza-family-says/0000018e-7dc0-d680-a1cf-ffc7736c0000 |archive-date=3 April 2024}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Fink |first=Rachel |date=2024-04-10 |title='We ask for your forgiveness': Settlers attend funeral of Palestinian convert to Judaism who was shot by Isra |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-10/ty-article/.premium/settlers-attend-funeral-of-palestinian-convert-to-judaism-who-was-shot-by-idf-reservist/0000018e-c875-d480-a99e-ce7727a00000 |access-date=2024-04-11 |work=Haaretz |language=en}}</ref> Arnon said that Ben Avraham was continuing his study in religion and was on his way to Jerusalem for religious studies the day he was shot by the army reservist.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alhurra.com/israel-hamas-war/2024/03/21/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A|title=مقتل فلسطيني اعتنق اليهودية برصاص إسرائيلي|publisher=Al Hurra|date=21 March 2024|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Ben Avraham's death |
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⚫ | Ben Avraham's death occurred during heightened tensions associated with the ongoing [[Israel–Hamas War]] and violent incidents in the West Bank. Two days before his killing, a gunman had fired on two members of Israel's [[Shin Bet]] security service at a location about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Elazar bus stop.<ref name=":2" /> Over 350 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied [[West Bank]] since the start of the war on 7 October 2023,<ref name="mee" /> mostly during attacks or clashes with Israeli troops.<ref name=":2" /> ''The Jerusalem Post'' said Ben Avraham's killing joins a series of "wrongful mistaken killings" of Jewish-Israelis and [[Arab-Israelis]] that have occurred since 7 October, "in which, to date, the prosecution and courts have been extremely lenient on the killers".<ref name=":1" /> |
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After Ben Avraham's death, [[Ministry of Interior (Israel)|Israeli Minister of Interior]] [[Moshe Arbel]] granted Ben Avraham's request for Israeli residency, with Arbel commenting that this was to fulfill Ben Avraham's "last wish to be part of the [[Israelis|Israeli people]]" as a form of "justice, even if it is too late and under tragic circumstances".<ref name="toi1"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel's interior minister approves Palestinian convert's residency request |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-794344 |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=29 March 2024}}</ref> |
After Ben Avraham's death, [[Ministry of Interior (Israel)|Israeli Minister of Interior]] [[Moshe Arbel]] granted Ben Avraham's request for Israeli residency, with Arbel commenting that this was to fulfill Ben Avraham's "last wish to be part of the [[Israelis|Israeli people]]" as a form of "justice, even if it is too late and under tragic circumstances".<ref name="toi1"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel's interior minister approves Palestinian convert's residency request |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-794344 |access-date=3 April 2024 |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |date=29 March 2024}}</ref> |
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Latest revision as of 13:30, 8 December 2024
Killing of David Ben Avraham | |
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Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict | |
Location | Elazar |
Coordinates | 31°39′36″N 35°8′31″E / 31.66000°N 35.14194°E |
Date | 21 March 2024 |
Attack type | Shooting |
Deaths | 1 (Ben Avraham) |
Perpetrator | Israel Defense Forces |
On 21 March 2024, David Ben Avraham (Hebrew: דוד בן אברהם), a 63-year-old Palestinian Jewish convert, was shot and killed by an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldier near Elazar, an Israeli settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.[1] The soldier had approached Ben Avraham and asked whether he was Jewish, to which he responded affirmatively. In the ensuing encounter, the soldier pointed his rifle at Ben Avraham and threatened to kill him if he reached for his bag; Ben Avraham complied but was nevertheless shot dead.[2]
The IDF opened an investigation into what it termed a "grave" incident; the soldier, a reservist, was released a week later by an Israeli court.[3] The Jerusalem Post stated that the killing joined a series of "wrongful mistaken killings" of Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis since the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel "in which, to date, the prosecution and courts have been extremely lenient on the killers."[4]
Originally Sameh Zaytoun (Arabic: سامح زيتون), Ben Avraham was a resident of Hebron and had changed his name upon converting from Islam to Judaism. Following his conversion, he was jailed by the Palestinian Authority for 58 days in 2019. The Israeli government repeatedly denied his applications for Israeli citizenship, which The Times of Israel stated was "ostensibly due to his Palestinian heritage."[2] On 29 March, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel posthumously approved Ben Avraham's residency status.[2]
Background
Born Sameh Muhammad Abd al-Rai Zaytoun (Arabic: سامح محمد عبد الراي زيتون),[5][6] Ben Avraham had converted to Judaism from Islam a number of years ago in honour of his grandfather, who had saved 25 Jews during the 1929 Hebron massacre. Zaytoun's attempts to formalize his conversion were rebuffed several times by Israeli authorities until he eventually succeeded in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak, where he changed his name to David Ben Avraham. After his conversion, Ben Avraham's applications for Israeli citizenship had been repeatedly denied, which The Times of Israel stated may have been because he was Palestinian.[7][2] Avraham was a resident of Hebron.[8]
In 2019, Ben Avraham was arrested and jailed by the Palestinian Authority for 58 days in Hebron, where he was reportedly tortured by guards and attacked and beaten by other inmates after they discovered that he had converted to Judaism.[7][8] Palestinian religious figures also visited him in prison to convince him to retract his conversion, but he declined.[7] A number of Israelis rallied for his release, including a resident of Hebron who organized a hunger strike for two weeks.[9] Another fundraised for his bail, which was disbursed to a Hebron Palestinian court.[10] Following his release from prison, Israeli first responders picked him up from the prison in a wheelchair.[8]
Killing
According to available CCTV and bodycam footage reported on by The Times of Israel, Ben Avraham exited a taxi on the morning of 21 March 2024 near the settlement of Elazar in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.[2] A reservist of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) then approached him and a confrontation ensued between the two.[1][11] During the exchange, the reservist did not appear to believe that Ben Avraham was Jewish. Ben Avraham reached for his bag and was stopped by the reservist who said, "Touch that and I'll kill you, do you understand me?" The reservist then ordered Ben Avraham to put his hands up. Another video from the incident showed Ben Avraham with his hands on his head seconds before he was shot.[10]
The Jerusalem Post reported that Ben Avraham did not do anything suspicious other than get off the bus at a stop that Palestinians did not typically use.[4] A knife was later found in Ben Avraham's bag, but The Times of Israel reported that there was no evidence that he posed a threat. The IDF opened an investigation into what it called a "grave incident".[2][12] Noam Arnon, a friend of Ben Avraham’s and a Hebron spokesperson, said that Ben Avraham carried the knife in his bag for self-defense.[10]
The reservist's attorneys opined that "we do not doubt that the investigation will clarify the chain of events and the case [of David Ben Avraham] will end with an additional excellence award awarded to the soldier".[2] The attorneys also said that the soldier "recently was honored for his bravery in thwarting the ramming attack that took place about three weeks ago in Gush Etzion."[2] Israeli law does not allow use of lethal force in cases where an arrest is easily achievable.[4][13]
The reservist was detained by authorities. He was released a week later by the order of an Israeli military court judge, who said that the reservist had several reasons to believe that Ben Avraham was a "terrorist". The Israeli judge said that Ben Avraham exited a taxi with Palestinian license plates near a settlement; that he told the reservist that he was going to Jerusalem despite not having a permit to enter Jerusalem; that he spoke Hebrew with an Arabic accent; that soldiers had been warned of potential "terrorist" activity; and that he had lowered his hands.[3][10] Arnon said that Ben Avraham was continuing his study in religion and was on his way to Jerusalem for religious studies the day he was shot by the army reservist.[8][14]
Ben Avraham's death occurred during heightened tensions associated with the ongoing Israel–Hamas War and violent incidents in the West Bank. Two days before his killing, a gunman had fired on two members of Israel's Shin Bet security service at a location about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Elazar bus stop.[5] Over 350 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied West Bank since the start of the war on 7 October 2023,[7] mostly during attacks or clashes with Israeli troops.[5] The Jerusalem Post said Ben Avraham's killing joins a series of "wrongful mistaken killings" of Jewish-Israelis and Arab-Israelis that have occurred since 7 October, "in which, to date, the prosecution and courts have been extremely lenient on the killers".[4]
After Ben Avraham's death, Israeli Minister of Interior Moshe Arbel granted Ben Avraham's request for Israeli residency, with Arbel commenting that this was to fulfill Ben Avraham's "last wish to be part of the Israeli people" as a form of "justice, even if it is too late and under tragic circumstances".[2][15]
Funeral
Jewish custom is to bury the dead as soon as possible. Ben Avraham's burial was postponed for more than two weeks because his family opposed him receiving a Jewish funeral and submitted an appeal to bury him themselves in Hebron. A family court in Tel Aviv determined that Ben Avraham's conversion was proof that he wanted to be buried in a Jewish ceremony and authorized the funeral to move forward. Hebrew media outlets reported that dozens of residents from neighboring settlements attended his funeral. He was buried in Har Bracha, an Israeli West Bank settlement.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Israeli forces kill Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank: Spokesman". AFP. Al Arabiya. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Disturbing video shows Jewish convert fatally shot by IDF in West Bank posed no threat". Times of Israel. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b Kubovich, Yaniv; Shezaf, Hagar (27 March 2024). "Military court releases reservist who fatally shot a Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "IDF probes soldiers for mistakenly killing Palestinian convert to Judaism". Jerusalem Post. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Fabian, Emanuel (21 March 2024). "IDF probing fatal shooting of Palestinian convert to Judaism in West Bank". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Video shows an Israeli soldier questioning a 63-year-old Palestinian man if he is Jewish before shooting him". Middle East Monitor. 29 March 2024. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Palestinian who converted to Judaism shot dead by Israeli soldier in West Bank". Middle East Eye. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Kampeas, Ron (22 March 2024). "IDF is investigating after troops kill Palestinian who converted to Judaism to honor his grandfather, who rescued Jews". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Palestinian who converted to Judaism mistakenly killed by IDF". www.israelhayom.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Fink, Rachel (10 April 2024). "'We ask for your forgiveness': Settlers attend funeral of Palestinian convert to Judaism who was shot by Isra". Haaretz. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "فيديو يُظهر لحظة قتل جندي إسرائيلي فلسطينيا "يهوديا" (فيديو)" (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Palestinian who converted to Judaism mistakenly killed by IDF". Israel Hayom. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Israeli army kills 6 Palestinians in West Bank: sources". Xinhau. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "مقتل فلسطيني اعتنق اليهودية برصاص إسرائيلي". Al Hurra. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Israel's interior minister approves Palestinian convert's residency request". The Jerusalem Post. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
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