5 police officers indicted for throwing stun grenades at anti-government protesters

Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter

Israel Police officer Meir Suissa, right, prepares a stun grenade moments before he hurled it into a crowd of demonstrators during a mass protest in Tel Aviv, March 1, 2023. (Video screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Israel Police officer Meir Suissa, right, prepares a stun grenade moments before he hurled it into a crowd of demonstrators during a mass protest in Tel Aviv, March 1, 2023. (Video screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

The Department for Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) files indictments against five police officers for throwing stun grenades at protesters during an anti-government demonstration in March 2023.

One of those indicted is Superintendent Meir Suissa, who was commended for his actions by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has authority over the police. Suissa is slated to be promoted and given command of a police station in south Tel Aviv.

DIPI says in a statement to the press that throwing stun grenades in such a manner violates police directives, and that the police officers’ actions injured protesters and were therefore negligent.

“The five indicted [officers] threw stun grenades towards the crowds, who at that time were not acting violently toward the police officers,” DIPI says.

“The high density of the demonstrators, including children and the elderly, and their frequent movement from place to place, prevented the possibility of properly assessing where the grenade would land, all of which is contrary to police procedure.”

Suissa was praised at the time by Ben Gvir for his handling of the Tel Aviv demonstration, and the minister today again comes to the police officer’s defense.

“DIPI’s decision to file an indictment against Meir Suisa and other police officers is tainted by political motives and political pressure,” Ben Gvir alleges, adding that DIPI was selective enforcing the law under the guidance of the attorney general and state attorney.

He said DIPI was “providing protection for lawbreakers and road blockers on one side of the political map by attempting to deter police officers from enforcing the law against them.”

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