A pathologist testifying in the manslaughter trial of IDF soldier Elor Azariya told the court on Thursday, 10 Sivan, that if the soldier has not fired at the wounded terrorist he might be alive today. Dr. Hadas Gips told the Jaffa Military Court that Abdel Fatah al-Sharif would have survived his wounds had Azariya not fired at him.

Some feel this gives a boost to the defense, as the defendant has maintained he felt the wounded terrorist still posed a threat.

Azariya has already told investigators he saw the wounded terrorist moving and arm and his head and was wearing a heavy jacket, which led him to fear he was also wearing a bomb, which he could still detonate.

Azariya was the soldier who shot and killed the wounded terrorist at point blank range on Hebron, shortly after the terrorist wounded a soldier in a stabbing attack, which led to his wounds as soldiers fired at him.

Elor’s company commander, Major Tom Neeman also took the stand, explaining that during the eight months Elor was a subordinate under his command, he was a very good soldier, well-disciplined, and this led to the decision to select him to become the company medic. The commander added the knife was far from the terrorist’s hand and he could not have reached it. He added that regarding the claim he was wearing a jacket on a hot day, he explained many wear long sleeves in Hebron during the summer so he does not agree with Elor’s assessment fearing a bomb. When asked “was the shooting of wounded terrorist justified” the company commander responded “no”.

His trial many fear has become political as the military prosecutor seems adamant to get a conviction in the case, having PA (Palestinian Authority) photographers testify in the case against the soldier as well as presenting video footage from the B’Tselem left-wing human rights association which the defense maintains has been edited. The military prosecutor first announced the soldier would face murder charges but lacking concrete evidence to support the case, the charges were lowered to manslaughter.

Some opine this was the final straw that led to the chain of events compelling former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon’s resignation as he backed the murder charges against the soldier, showing little or no support for him before the evidence in the case was in. Ya’alon was quick to condemn the soldier in the media, even before the facts in the case became known.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)