Israel sentenced an army commander in the occupied West Bank to 10 days in military prison following an investigation into his shooting of an innocent Palestinian motorist. The Israeli military claimed that security forces in the area received reports of gunshots and later spotted a Palestinian vehicle fleeing the scene, leading them to open fire and wound the driver. However, an investigation revealed that it was a case of mistaken identity. The commander’s sentencing has sparked criticism from rights groups and critics who accuse Israeli soldiers of being trigger-happy, especially in response to recent attacks by Palestinians. They argue that Israeli military investigations rarely result in prosecutions in the West Bank. According to Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, out of 248 investigations opened between 2017 and 2021, only 11 indictments were issued. This low prosecution rate raises concerns about accountability for Israeli forces. Right-wing lawmakers expressed anger over the commander’s sentencing, suggesting that he was being punished unjustly. The Israeli military has announced that all divisions will conduct a review to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
