Israel soldier who killed Palestinian teen to be promoted

An Israeli soldier who shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian as he tried to flee in 2015 is being promoted, the Israel army announced yesterday.

Colonel Yisrael Shomer is to take command of the Nahal Brigade, the army revealed.

Shomer was filmed in 3 July 2015 shooting Muhammad Ali-Kosba after the teen threw a stone at a military vehicle in the occupied West Bank.

An investigation found that Shomer had acted “according to the procedure for arresting a suspect – which, according to the Military Police, included firing a warning shot into the air followed by two bullets aimed at the teen’s legs”, Haaretz reported.

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“However, because Shomer himself had been in motion, his aim was inaccurate and he hit Kosba’s torso, according to the investigation.”

However, a B’Tselem found Kosba’s body had three gunshot wounds, one in the face and two in the back.

However, the Israel army closed the case in to the shooting, ruling that it had been justified.