An Israeli lawmaker caused a firestorm Wednesday after footage emerged in which he accused Israeli troops of carrying out deliberate killings of Palestinian minors. MK Ofer Cassif, who represents that Arab-Jewish party Hadash in the Knesset, said in a speech on Tuesday that the recent deaths in Judea and Samaria have only one side to blame – Israel.

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In the footage obtained by Israel Hayom on Wednesday, a day after it was filmed, the lawmaker can be seen saying that the recent spate of terrorist attacks on Israelis, including deadly shooting incidents in Jerusalem and Samaria in successive days, could be explained by Israel's overall actions throughout the years and that the real victims were the casualties on the Palestinian side who died during Israeli counterterrorism raids.

Video: Yehuda Shlezinger

"The root cause is the occupation, it is an injustice in and of itself; 12 Palestinians were murdered in the occupied territories, including minors, children who were executed. This bloodshed is terrible, the occupation is a form of injustice," he said, ignoring the fact that Israeli troops targeted armed Palestinians during the raids.

During the event, which was attended by other lawmakers from Arab parties, the participants were asked whether they would agree that terrorist attacks on IDF soldiers should stop. Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh tried to evade the question, saying that "everyone is a victim of this wicked occupation... Arabs and Jews are dear to everyone and we do not want even one person to die. We have to end the occupation."

ח״כ עופר כסיף שוב חצה קו אדום של שקרים והסתה - דווקא בזמן שחיילי צה״ל פועלים להגן על כל אזרחי ישראל, יהודים וערבים, מפני טרור רצחני. הם עושים זאת במקצועיות, בנחישות, בחתירה למגע ובהתאם לערכי צה״ל וטוהר הנשק וכולנו צריכים להוקיר אותם. pic.twitter.com/uAhGmARxah

— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) October 12, 2022

In the wake of Cassif's comments, Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued a harsh rebuke. "Cassif has once again crossed a red line with lies and incitement precisely when the IDF soldiers are protecting all Israelis – Arabs and Jews alike – from murderous terrorism. They have been doing this with professionalism, determination, and in accordance with IDF values and purity of the arms, and we should all praise them for this." Gantz vowed to provide "full backing" for the soldiers and added that "precisely because of statements like that no government will have the Joint Arab List in it," referring to the Nov. 1 election, from which he hopes to emerge Israel's prime minister.

In response to Gantz's comments, Cassif said, "If a war criminal like him attacks me, then I am in a good place."

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Ofer Cassif, the lone Jewish lawmaker representing the Joint Arab List in the Knesset, referred to Palestinian security prisoners as "political prisoners" in a post to Facebook marking Palestinian Prisoners Day.

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Cassif also shared an image of a prison cell with the caption: "May all the captives be released!"

"The vast majority of Palestinian prisoners in Israel have not been charged with criminal offenses – they are political prisoners due to their opposition to the military occupation of their people.

"From here, I send a message of freedom, of hope, and peace. We must stop holding captives, strive for an agreement that ends the occupation, stops the bloodshed, and leads to prosperity for all those residing in the land."

Cassif recently made headlines for injuries he sustained when police punched him and wrestled him to the ground in a protest against planned evictions in east Jerusalem last week.

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MK Ofer Cassif said he was attacked by police officers during a demonstration in Jerusalem on Friday, despite telling officers at the scene that he was a member of Knesset.

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A video circulating online showed policemen punching Cassif and wrestling him to the ground at a protest against planned evictions in east Jerusalem. One of the officers can later be seen briefly kneeling on his chest.

Cassif was left with a swollen eye and torn shirt. MK Ahmad Tibi, a fellow lawmaker from the Joint Arab List, was among those sharing the video of the scuffle on Twitter, calling it a "brutal assault" and a violation of parliamentary immunity.

Cassif denied he intentionally provoked the officers and rejected claims that he called them "Nazis."

"It didn't help that I told them I was a member of Knesset and have immunity," he said. "They beat me and broke my glasses."

One eye-witness said: [Cassif] was on the ground and the policemen hit him repeatedly even though he told them he was an MK. Even if he was a 'regular' citizen, there's no justification for such violence."

The Israel Police said in a statement that Cassif attacked the policemen, who used "reasonable force" in response and released him as soon as they identified him as a member of Knesset. Jerusalem District Commander Doron Turgeman ordered an investigation into the incident.

Lawmakers from both political aisles condemned the police. New Hope party leader Gideon Sa'ar took to Twitter to write: "I despise the views of MK Ofer Cassif but the brutal police violence against him I consider as fierce blows to the Knesset of Israel and parliamentary immunity. Disgraceful and dangerous."

Religion Zionism Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich criticized the police as well, saying that the incident was "grave and unacceptable in a democratic state governed by the rule of law."

Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin (Likud) said, "I was appalled to see … a member of Knesset beaten by police officers. No citizen is deserving of such brutality."

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He vowed: "I will urgently speak with the public security minister [Amir Ohana] and insist that all the necessary steps are taken to hold those responsible accountable."

Joint Arab List officials demanded that the officers involved in the incident be suspended and that a full investigation be launched. "The responsibility doesn't just fall in the policemen but also on the winds blowing from the top on down against the people, protesters and MKs doing their jobs," one official said.

i24NEWS contributed to this report.

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