Israeli president pardons soldier convicted of killing wounded Palestinian
–
Neutral summary
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday, September 19, pardoned former soldier Elor Azaria, convicted of manslaughter for shooting wounded Palestinian Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron in 2016. Azaria shot the 21-year-old in the head after he had been incapacitated by Israeli troops. He was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but was released in May 2018 after his sentence was reduced. Herzog acted on the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz, citing the time that had passed and the approaching Yom Kippur. The military opposed the pardon, with senior officers noting Azaria had not expressed remorse or accepted responsibility even a decade later. The decision was also supported by members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Azaria thanked God, his family, Katz and Herzog. According to O Globo, the decision came amid a new wave of violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
How it was framed
Outlets: 14. Countries: 8. Facts in the shared core: 10.
Publication timeline
-
·
Haaretz (outlet profile)
President Herzog pardons Elor Azaria, IDF soldier convicted of 2016 killing of wounded Palestinian assailant
-
·
The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)
President Herzog grants Elor Azaria pardon ahead of Yom Kippur, erases record. Azaria began his term in prison in August 2024 after being convicted of manslaughter for shooting Palestinian attacker Abdel Fatah al-Sharif…
-
·
Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Israeli president pardons soldier who killed wounded Palestinian in 2016 West Bank shooting. Israeli president pardons soldier who killed wounded Palestinian in 2016 West Bank shooting Israeli President Isaac Herzog on…
-
·
The Independent (outlet profile)
Israel's president pardons a combat medic whose shooting of a Palestinian attacker caused debate. Israel's president has pardoned a combat medic who shot dead a badly wounded Palestinian attacker a decade ago
-
·
The Guardian (outlet profile)
Israeli president pardons combat medic who shot dead wounded Palestinian attacker. Elor Azaria’s conviction in 2017 for manslaughter of man who stabbed soldier continues to divide country Israel’s president has pardoned…
-
·
Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Israel’s president pardons soldier who killed wounded Palestinian in 2016. Elor Azaria had shot a Palestinian who had already been incapacitated by Israeli troops, in controversial case.
-
·
Le Parisien (outlet profile)
Le président israélien gracie un soldat qui avait achevé un assaillant palestinien blessé d’une balle dans la tête
-
·
BFMTV (outlet profile)
Le président israélien gracie un soldat qui avait abattu un assaillant palestinien blessé. Un ancien soldat israélien qui avait tué en 2016 en Cisjordanie occupée un assaillant palestinien, alors qu'il était blessé, a é…
-
·
Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
Israel's president pardons a combat medic whose shooting of a Palestinian attacker caused debate. President Isaac Herzog in a statement said he acted on the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz and cited the t…
-
·
O Globo (outlet profile)
Presidente de Israel dá perdão a soldado que matou palestino incapacitado em 2016; caso causou revolta internacional. O presidente de Israel, Isaac Herzog, eliminou neste sábado (19) o histórico de antecedentes criminai…
-
·
RT - Daily news (outlet profile)
Israel wipes criminal record of soldier who shot wounded Palestinian. The Israeli president has cleared the criminal record of a man who was convicted of manslaughter for killing a wounded Palestinian in 2016 Read Full…
-
·
RFI (outlet profile)
Israël: le président Herzog gracie un soldat qui avait abattu un assaillant palestinien blessé. En Israël, le président Isaac Herzog a accordé l’effacement anticipé du casier judiciaire d’Elor Azaria. En 2016, ce soldat…
-
·
Rzeczpospolita (outlet profile)
Izraelski żołnierz dokonał egzekucji Palestyńczyka. Prezydent Izraela okazał mu łaskę. Decyzją prezydenta Icchaka Hercoga z rejestru karnego Izraela usunięty został Elor Azaria, który jako żołnierz izraelskiego wojska z…
-
·
Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Israeli president pardons soldier convicted for killing wounded Palestinian. Israeli president pardons soldier convicted for killing wounded Palestinian Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Sun, 09/20/2026 - 14:15 Azaria was…
-
·
Onet Wiadomości (outlet profile)
Prezydent Izraela poszedł na spięcie z wojskiem. Wymazał wyrok skazanego żołnierza. Prezydent Izraela wymazał wpis z rejestru karnego byłemu żołnierzowi skazanemu za zabicie rannego palestyńskiego napastnika. Decyzji te…
Factual core
- Elor Azaria, an Israeli soldier, shot and killed a wounded Palestinian assailant in Hebron in 2016.
- The pardon was issued by Israel's president.
- The Palestinian was wounded at the time of the shooting.
- The former soldier was convicted for killing a wounded Palestinian attacker.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog pardoned former soldier Elor Azaria by removing his criminal record.
- Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the pardon, calling it a correct, humane, and fitting decision.
- Azaria was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2017, reduced to 14 months on appeal, and released in May 2018 after serving nine months.
- The Israeli military opposed the pardon, with army chief Eyal Zamir citing Azaria's lack of public remorse for the killing.
- The expungement is an early clearing of Azaria's criminal record.
- The pardon was announced by the President's office on the eve of the Jewish New Year, a traditional time for granting clemency.