Israeli Soldier Shoots Prisoner on Tape

Blindfolded Palestinian demonstrator hit with rubber bullet

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:59 AM CDT

(Newser) – An Israeli soldier was arrested today after a human rights group released a tape showing him shooting a handcuffed and blindfolded Palestinian protester with a rubber bullet, YNetNews reports. The Israeli Defense Force questioned the man shortly after the incident, which was reported by an officer at the scene, but only launched a criminal investigation after the human rights group sent them the videotape.

The video, shot by a local 14-year-old girl, shows the protester waving a flag during a demonstration against Israel’s West Bank barrier, before cutting to the soldier shooting him, as he stood behind a military vehicle, with an Israeli officer holding his arm. The IDF says the man was only “very lightly wounded” on his foot. The girl was one of more than 100 local Palestinians given video cameras by the B'Tselem human rights groups in hopes of catching such abuses.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

An Israeli soldier takes aim at a bound and blindfolded hostage in this screen capture from a video shot by a 14-year-old girl who lived nearby. (YouTube screenshot)

This screen capture shows a Palestinian demonstrator who is blindfolded and bound. He was later shot with a rubber bullet at close range. (YouTube Screenshot)

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Israeli soldier fires a rubber bullet at prisoner in Ni'lin in this video taken by a 14-year-old girl who lives nearby. (starywron)

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Israeli Soldier Shoots Prisoner on Tape