DIP has decided that the police officer suspected of the shooting will be prosecuted subject to a hearing for the frivolous death • "The decision was made after examining all the circumstances of the case"
Border police officer shot dead in Jerusalem in Iyad al-Halak in May, will be prosecuted subject to a hearing for fatal death, the Police Investigations Department announced today (Wednesday). According to the department, "the decision was made after examining all the circumstances of the case" - Of al-Halak.
Al-Halak's funeral in East Jerusalem
As part of the investigation into the incident, according to a DIP statement, witnesses will be questioned and security cameras from the incident area will be interrogated, including cameras placed on the street where the al-Halak chase took place. Belonging to the Jerusalem Municipality and run by a private cleaning company, electricity was cut off the day before the shooting by one of the local employees, so there was no documentation of the incident at all.
The letter of suspicion filed against the policeman indicates that al-Halak went to his place of work in the Old City wearing a surgical mask and wearing disposable gloves.
Two policemen who were at a guard post at the Tribal Gate at the time noticed Iyad standing near the opening of a Border Police post at the Lions Gate.
The two suspected that Iyad, who had special needs, was a terrorist.
They began to follow him, when at one point one of the policemen announced on the police communications network that there was a terrorist around him - and then began to chase him while calling on him to stop and identify himself in Hebrew and Arabic.
The suspected policeman and his commander, who was determined not to be prosecuted, joined the chase and called on Iyad to stop or fire at him.
Al-Halak, who was 31 at the time of his death, continued to flee from them, until the commander fired two bullets at Iyad's feet, which did not hit him.
A few seconds later, he turned to the compound where he was eventually found dead, with the suspect and his commander following him.
At this point, the suspected policeman fired at Iyad, even though his commander called for him to stop the act.
Iyad was hit in the lower abdomen by the shooting, and fell to the ground.
At this point, more police officers entered the compound.
The suspected policeman shouted at Iyad in Hebrew, "Do not move," and at the same time another policeman asked him in the evenings, "Where is the gun?"
Al-Halak stood up and pointed at a woman who was in the compound and whom he knew.
The policeman asked the woman "Where is the gun?", And she answered "Which gun?".
At this point, the suspected policeman fired once more at Iyad.
As part of the shooter's prosecution considerations, according to the DIP statement, "the fact that Iyad did not pose a danger to the police and civilians who were at the scene, that the suspected police officer fired in accordance with police orders and did not take more proportionate alternatives at his disposal was examined.
On the other hand, the fact that the police officer carried out the shooting after a suspicion arose that it was a terrorist, as stated, and the fact that the shooting was carried out during an operational activity in a complex sector were also taken into account. "
Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn commented on the decision: "The case of the killing of Iyad al-Halak is a terrible tragedy. There is nothing to alleviate the pain of the family.
Along with concern and backing for the security forces protecting us with their bodies, we must ensure that there is no deviation from the basic moral standards.
I welcome the professional treatment of the issue, we will continue to promote the DIP reform for the benefit of justice, for the benefit of the public. "
Participated in the preparation of the article: Daniel Roth-Avnery