Ben Gvir protests ‘disgrace’ as officer probed for shooting Palestinian teen

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arrives at the offices of the Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) to lend his support to a police officer from the Border Police who is set to be questioned over the death of a 13-year-old boy during clashes in the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem on Tuesday night.

The police claimed that the teen, identified as Rami Hamdan Al-Halhouli, shot fireworks “directly” at Israeli security forces operating in the area, although video footage purportedly of the incident shows the fireworks being shot into the air.

The far-right minister, who invariably and often immediately gives strident public backing to police officers accused of acting improperly, lambasts the DIPI, which he says is “destroying Israeli deterrence” and “harming combat police officers,” adding that Israel “does not abandon” its security personnel.

“It is outrageous to me that the Department of Internal Police Investigations DIPI even dared to invite the fighter here for questioning, it is shameful and disgraceful,” says Ben Gvir, who was accompanied by the police officer’s attorneys at the entrance to DIPI offices.

“A terrorist sets off fireworks and wants to harm our soldiers, our fighters, and shoots the fireworks… A fighter comes and does exactly what we expect from him. This is simply the biggest scandal — that they summon him here and bring him for questioning,” continues the far-right minister.

Ben Gvir adds that he has in the past reinstated Border Police officers who were suspended by DIPI, and says that, as the minister with authority over the police, he will “give support to this combat police officer” who the minister says was, together with his fellow officers, “doing exceptional work.”

The minister adds, however, that he will not intervene in the DIPI investigation.

הגעתי למשרדי מח"ש לגבות את הלוחם שירה במחבל שניסה לפגוע על ידי זיקוקים בלוחמי מג"ב אמש בשופעט – במשמרת שלי אני אתן גב מלא ללוחמים, לא אתן שיפקירו אותם. לוחם שעושה בדיוק את מה שמצופה ממנו – צריך לקבל צל"ש, לא חקירה במח"ש! pic.twitter.com/HltlqyAzui

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) March 13, 2024