Military prosecutors indict soldier over killing of hero civilian Yuval Castleman at terror attack scene

Military prosecutors have filed an indictment against Staff Sgt. (res.) Aviad Frija for the killing of Yuval Castleman at the scene of a deadly terror attack in Jerusalem last year.

Frija is being charged with manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

According to the incitement, on November 30, 2023, during a terror shooting attack at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem, Castleman, an armed civilian, stopped his car across the street, got out and ran and killed the terrorists, ending the deadly attack.

Frija, who was off-duty at the time, was also at the scene and attempted to neutralize the two Hamas gunmen.

Moments after the two terrorists were shot by Castleman, Frija opened fire at the armed civilian, despite another off-duty soldier calling on him to cease fire, the indictment says.

The indictment says that Frija continued shooting at Castleman even after he raised his hands in the air, took off his jacket, threw down his gun, and posed no danger. The continued shooting caused Castleman’s death.

Video footage from the incident showed Castleman shouting “Don’t shoot” before the fatal shots by Frija.

The IDF says that the indictment was filed following an extensive Military Police investigation, and following a hearing.