Israeli defence minister seeks pardon for soldier who killed Palestinian

Israeli defence minister seeks pardon for soldier who killed Palestinian Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 12:53 Elor Azaria has manslaughter conviction over killing a wounded Palestinian man in Hebron Katz pictured in January 2026, said that the conviction sent a negative message (AFP) Off Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has requested that President Isaac Herzog pardon Elor Azaria, a former Israeli soldier convicted for killing an incapacitated Palestinian in Hebron, Israeli media reported. On 24 March 2016, Azaria killed Abdel Fattah al-Sharif while he was lying wounded and motionless on the ground, 11 minutes after he was shot by Israeli troops due to an alleged stabbing attempt. Around one year later, Azaria was convicted of manslaughter, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.