An Israel Defense Forces paratrooper who shot and killed a Palestinian fisherman near the Gaza border in 2018 has been given 45 days of community service after an army investigation concluded he fired without authorization, the military said Thursday.
The IDF said a group of Palestinians had approached the fence but were far away when the soldier opened fire, striking one of them.
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Although the military's statement did not identify either the soldier or the Palestinian involved by name, Nawaf al-Attar, 23, was fatally shot near the northern border of the Gaza coast on Nov. 14, 2018, which is when the IDF said the shooting in the case occurred.
The incident occurred a few hours after a ceasefire took effect following a flare-up of violence between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups.
The military said the soldier reached a plea bargain in which he pleaded guilty to charges of negligence and reckless endangerment. He received a suspended sentence and was demoted to the rank of private.
Israel says it makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Palestinian terrorists of using civilians as human shields.
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