An Israeli military court on Monday ordered the release of soldier Elor Azaria who was convicted of killing a Palestinian in al-Khalil last year.
The court ruled that Azaria would be placed under house arrest at his parents’ house in Ramla city for no more than a week or two until a decision is reached on the appeal against an earlier court verdict sentencing him to 18 months in jail.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper Azaria has spent a few months in open detention at the Kfir Brigade’s Nachshonim Base near Rosh HaAyin. In that time Azaria periodically left the base to his home and many trips to court on furloughs. Additionally his family was granted frequent visitation rights to his base.
Azaria’s lawyer already appealed the original court verdict and demanded a full acquittal for his client.
In March 2016 Azaria cold-bloodedly shot Abdul-Fatah al-Sharif 21 in the head while he was lying immobile on the ground in al-Khalil.
The incident which was filmed at the time happened about 15 minutes after al-Sharif was shot and wounded by other soldiers he tried to stab.
