Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Israeli President Pardons Soldier Convicted of Killing Wounded Palestinian
Elor Azaria was an Israeli combat medic who shot a badly wounded Palestinian attacker in Hebron.
The attacker had stabbed an Israeli soldier and was lying on the ground when Azaria approached him.
A phone video recorded the shooting.
Azaria was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
He served about two-thirds of that sentence.
On Saturday, President Isaac Herzog pardoned him.
Herzog said he considered the age of the case, the upcoming Yom Kippur holiday and Azaria’s expression of sorrow.
Some Israeli officials supported the pardon, while the military chief reportedly advised against it.
President Isaac Herzog pardoned former combat medic Elor Azaria on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Azaria shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in the head after he had stabbed a soldier in Hebron.
A mobile-phone video captured the incident, which occurred about a decade ago.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 and served two-thirds of an 18-month sentence.
Herzog cited the case’s age, the approaching Yom Kippur holiday and Azaria’s expressed sorrow; military chief Eyal Zamir reportedly opposed the pardon.
- Who
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog pardoned former combat medic Elor Azaria, who shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif.
- What
- Herzog granted Azaria a pardon after his manslaughter conviction for shooting the badly wounded Palestinian attacker.
- When
- The pardon was announced on Saturday, Sept. 19; the shooting occurred about a decade earlier and the conviction was issued in 2017.
- Where
- The shooting took place in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.
- Why
- Herzog cited the age of the case, the approaching Yom Kippur holiday and Azaria’s expressed sorrow; Defence Minister Israel Katz had recommended the pardon.
Pardon supporters
Pardon opponents
Whether Azaria should receive a pardon
Pardon supporters
President Isaac Herzog granted the pardon after Defence Minister Israel Katz recommended it. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the decision, and Herzog cited the case’s age, Yom Kippur and Azaria’s expressed sorrow.
Pardon opponents
Military chief Eyal Zamir reportedly wrote to the defence minister that the pardon should not be granted.
Interpretation of the shooting
Pardon supporters
Supporters, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, described the shooting as involving a terrorist and praised the cancellation of Azaria’s criminal record.
Pardon opponents
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter after shooting Abdel Fattah al-Sharif while he was unarmed and badly wounded, making the case a major point of controversy in Israel.
- Pardoned soldier
- Elor Azaria
- Victim
- Abdel Fattah al-Sharif
- Conviction
- Manslaughter in 2017
- Original sentence
- 18 months in prison
- Time served
- Two-thirds of the sentence
- Pardon authority
- President Isaac Herzog
- Reported opposition
- Military chief Eyal Zamir reportedly advised against granting the pardon