An Israeli soldier from a communications unit has been suspended following an investigation into the deaths of two Palestinian teenagers during a Nakba Day demonstration last week, Reuters reports. “No apparent evidence linked the soldier to either fatality, though, in the incident outside Israel’s Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah,” Reuters reports. “The soldier was suspected of firing rubber bullets, not live ammunition, the reports said.”
An Israeli military spokesman declined comment on the reports, saying “the incident is still under investigation by military police.” The media reports said a military tribunal had clamped a gag order on other details of the case.
The military said on May 20 that a preliminary investigation indicated that security personnel had fired rubber bullets but not live ammunition during the clashes.
According to the Times of Israel, the incident remains under investigation. The suspension comes after mounting international calls for an investigation into the May 15 deaths, following the publication of footage appearing to show IDF soldiers using live fire on the victims, who appeared to be unarmed.
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Two Palestinians Killed in Nakba Day Protests
Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.
