"He will rot in a dungeon for the rest of his life": six years after the attack - the family of an officer who was killed by double-sided fire demands justice | Israel today

Demanding justice:

Today (Wednesday) a hearing was held at the military tribunal in the Ofer camp, regarding the arguments for the punishment of the terrorist Mamdoh Amro, who murdered Eliav Gelman in the attack at the Gush Etzion junction in 2016. Gelman's family members came to the hearing accompanied by attorney Haim Bleicher from the Honnu organization, where They testified and demanded that the court be harsher with the terrorist. 

The discussion of the arguments for the punishment is being held a second time, after the terrorist was initially convicted by a majority opinion only of murder.

After an appeal was filed against the decision of the High Court of Appeals, the Military Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the terrorist should be convicted of murder and the case returned to the court in Judea to re-sentence the terrorist. There, as mentioned, the family members appeared today.

The late Major Eliav Gelman, photo: courtesy of the family

Members of the Gelman family, photo: Oren Ben Hakon

"That's not how you win a war"

The members of the Gelman family said at the end of the hearing: "For six and a half years, the military prosecutor's office has protected our association, and we, the family, are working on one thing - a terrorist who came to kill must die or at the very least remain buried in a dungeon for the rest of his life. That's the only way to defeat terrorism. We arrived at the military court today Demand the maximum sentence that can be given to the terrorist. Six and a half years since the murder and the terrorist has still not been sentenced to rot in prison. That's not how you win a war."

The family members also said that: "We are in a position where we need, in the name of the other bereaved families and in the name of the people of Israel, to reach out and make sure that we do not compromise on the sentence and do not impose less than the maximum punishment that a terrorist who came to murder deserves. The trial, we will lower our heads to terrorism and no more families will go through the suffering we endure," the family members said.

Attorney Haim Bleicher on behalf of the Honuno organization, photo: Tzachi Miriam

The Gelman family with the lawyer Bleicher, photo: Oren Ben Hakon

Attorney Haim Bleicher from the Honnu organization representing the family said: "The terrorist carried out an attack after all.

A terrorist who comes to carry out an attack wants to destroy us.

Every terrorist who comes to carry out an attack has blood in his head and must make every effort to ensure that he does not come out alive, and if he nevertheless remains alive, it is obvious that he must be accused of murder and given the heaviest punishment, we came with the family members to make sure of this. Fight terrorism by all means, including legal ones. Any compromise on the matter strengthens terrorism. We hope that the message will get through and the court will determine that the terrorist will not see the light of day until his last day."

Let's recall, in the serious attack that took place at the Gush Etzion intersection in 2016, the terrorist pulled out a knife and started running towards the people who were trampling at the intersection.

Soldiers from the military force that secured the place shot at him, but the terrorist continued running towards Gelman who shot him with his gun.

As a result of the force's shooting, the terrorist was injured, and unfortunately Gelman was also injured by the forces' fire.

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