Hebron shooter Elor Azaria undergoes tests after fainting
Soldier convicted of manslaughter of Palestinian stabber passes out on base, sent for examinations at military hospital
IDF soldier Elor Azaria, convicted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a disarmed and wounded Palestinian stabber last year, received medical treatment Sunday after fainting at the Nachshonim army base, where he is being held.
Azaria passed out while working on the base and was taken to the base’s medical center for tests.
Though nothing unusual was found, doctors decided to send him to a larger medical facility for further tests, including an ECG, as a precaution.
The army said that several other soldiers also did not feel well and were sent with Azaria for further medical treatment.
As the incident unfolded, an Azaria family spokesperson said his life was not in danger. However, family spokesman and former lawmaker Sharon Gal claimed Azaria fainted due to the stress of the upcoming ruling on his appeal.
For over a year, the soldier has been confined to base after being released from military house arrest shortly after the fatal shooting on March 24, 2106. The assailant had minutes earlier stabbed an IDF soldier in the West Bank city of Hebron, and was lying on the ground disarmed and injured when Azaria shot him.
Azaria’s time spent on base will not count toward his sentence, but nine days he spent in jail immediately after the killing will be deducted from his term, the judges ruled.
Azaria was sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, both the defense team and the prosecution filed appeals on the case, with Azaria’s attorneys seeking to get the conviction overturned entirely and prosecutors trying to get the soldier a harsher punishment.
The two sides failed to reach a mediation deal, forcing the court to rule on the appeals. No date has yet been set for the court to render its decision in the divisive case, which has revealed deep rifts in Israeli society.
Azaria’s military service ends on July 20, meaning that if a verdict is not reached by then, he will no longer be able to remain confined to a military base. In such a case, the judges would need to decide if Azaria would remain under arrest and if so under what conditions.
Judah Ari Gross contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.