Army investigating video of Israeli sniper shooting Gazan near border

The Israeli military says it is investigating a video that surfaced on Monday that appears to show IDF troops cheering as an army sniper shoots and fells a Palestinian who approached the Gaza security fence, presumably during a recent demonstration.

The video, which was widely shared on the WhatsApp messaging application, was apparently filmed through a scope or binoculars.

The soldiers can be heard discussing the shot ahead of time, as the sniper trains his rifle on the suspect, who is seen standing next to another Palestinian crouching in front of a roll of barbed wire several meters away from the security fence.

It was not immediately clear when or where the video was filmed, but it appears to be from the recent protests along the Gaza border.

“The moment he stops, you drop him. Do you have a bullet in the chamber? Are you [trained] on him?” the commander asks.

The sharpshooter can then be heard saying he cannot fire because his shot is blocked by the rolls of barbed wire along the security fence.

One soldier, apparently the one filming it, calls over a friend a moment before a gunshot is heard and the Palestinian suspect is seen crumpling to the ground.

“Whoa! What a video! YES! Son of a bitch. What a video! Look they’re running to evacuate him,” the soldier filming the incident enthuses.

“Of course I filmed it,” he adds, responding to a question.

Another soldier is then heard saying, “Whoa, [he] hit him in the head.”

As a group of Palestinians can be seen carrying the injured man away, the photographer adds, “What a legendary video.”

Asked about the video, the Israel Defense Forces says it is looking into the matter.

— Judah Ari Gross

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLB9iocG82s&feature=youtu.be