A Border Police soldier accused of recklessly killing Iyad al-Halak, a young man with intellectual disabilities suspected of being a terrorist, was acquitted.
About two years ago, the Police Investigation Department of the State Attorney's Office filed an indictment in the Jerusalem District Court against the 20-year-old policeman for the reckless killing of Iyad al-Halak, a man with special needs in his 30s. According to the indictment, on May 30, 2020, al-Halaq was on his way to work in the Old City wearing a surgical mask and black disposable gloves.
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Certain characteristics of his behavior aroused the suspicions of two policemen stationed at the scene, who thought he was a terrorist. A chase began with al-Halaq shouting at him in Hebrew and Arabic to stop and identify himself.
A few seconds later, Iyad turned to a closed garbage dump where a cleaning worker, a waqf worker and another woman Iyad knew were present. The policeman and his commander followed him, and while he was standing in front of them, with his back to the wall, the policeman fired shots at him, as a result of which Iyad was hit in the lower abdomen and fell to the ground.
Immediately after the shooting, the two policemen entered the compound, one of whom turned to Iyad in Arabic and asked him where the gun was. In response, Iyad, who had been wounded by the first shot, rose slightly, pointed at the woman he knew, and muttered something.
Iyad al-Halak, photo: Courtesy of the family
Therefore, one of the officers turned to the woman and asked her where the gun was, and she replied, "What gun?" At the same time as she was torturing her, and despite the fact that Iyad was on the ground, wounded as a result of the first shooting, holding nothing in his hands or doing anything to justify it, the policeman fired at his upper body, causing his death.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the acquittal, saying: "I welcome the acquittal of a Border Policeman accused of shooting in the Old City of Jerusalem. Our heroic fighters who go out to defend us and the entire State of Israel with their bodies will receive a full embrace and backing from me and the Israeli government."
Border Police Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Cohen referred to the acquittal of a Border Police soldier in the Jerusalem District Court, spoke with the soldier and his father and told them: "All along I gave my full backing and I am happy with the court's decision to acquit you.
I inform you that I am returning you to the combat system of the IAF and approve your request to embark on a commanders' course that will begin in a few weeks.
The Border Police is a moral and professional force whose spirit leads the fighters to provide the necessary response in order to maintain the security of the citizens of Israel."
The soldier and his father thanked the Border Police commander and said: "We thank and praise the command courage, trust and decision to sign a permanent signing, and especially the tailwind that the Border Police commander has given us throughout the years.
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