Border cop suspended for threatening to ‘gas’ Palestinians
Probe launched over video of officer allegedly vowing to ‘slaughter’ families, children in Bethlehem if stone-throwing continues
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleA Border Police officer was suspended from operational duty on Friday after video footage emerged of him apparently threatening to gas and kill Palestinian civilians in the West Bank a day earlier.
According to a Channel 2 report, the threats were made after violent demonstrations were held in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem on Thursday.
A video released by the Palestinian news agency Ma’an shows what appears to be an Israeli patrol car enter the camp. A man then begins to threaten residents over a loudspeaker.
“You throw stones and we will hit you with gas until you all die. The children, the youth and the old people, you will all die. We won’t leave any of you alive,” the man calls out in Arabic.
“We have arrested one of you,” he continues. “He’s with us now. We took him from his home and we will slaughter and kill him while you watch if you keep throwing stones. Go home or we will gas you until you die. Your family, your children, everyone. We will kill you.”
Border Police officials called the policeman’s actions “a grave incident,” and vowed that the case would be handled “to the fullest extent of the law.”
They told Channel 2 news the officer has been suspended from all operations until the end of the inquiry, and that his continued service in the force would be reviewed.
The Times of Israel Community.