Israel’s head of state, President Isaac Herzog, has approved a presidential pardon for an Israeli soldier who was convicted of murdering a Palestinian civilian who was already injured during a 2016 incident, Al Jazeera reported. The soldier, whose identity was not disclosed in the report, had been found guilty of murder and sentenced to a term of imprisonment after a court determined he deliberately shot the wounded man.
The 2016 episode occurred amid heightened tensions along the Gaza‑Israel border, when the Palestinian victim, already lying on the ground after sustaining injuries in a prior clash, was shot dead by the soldier. The court ruling, handed down several years later, concluded that the killing was unlawful and not justified by self‑defence. The soldier served part of his sentence before the presidential clemency was granted.
President Herzog’s decision, announced in a brief statement, cited humanitarian considerations and the soldier’s personal circumstances as the basis for the pardon. The move follows a formal recommendation from the Ministry of Justice, which is required under Israeli law for a presidential pardon to be issued. The president’s office did not provide further details about the criteria applied.
Palestinian authorities and several Israeli human‑rights organisations have condemned the clemency, describing it as a setback for accountability and a reinforcement of a pattern of impunity for security‑force personnel. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the pardon “a provocative act that undermines any prospects for justice.” Domestic critics in Israel have also voiced concern that the decision could erode public confidence in the rule of law.
The Israeli government has not publicly responded to the criticism, and the Ministry of Justice has not released a detailed justification for its recommendation. The case adds to ongoing debates within Israel over the balance between security considerations, military discipline, and the legal rights of Palestinians living under occupation. The pardon is expected to be formalised in the coming days, after which the former soldier will be released from prison.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/19/israels-president-pardons-soldier-who-killed-wounded-palestinian-in-2016?traffic_source=rss.