US condemns assault of Palestinian activist in Hebron by IDF soldier

The US condemns the assault of a Palestinian activist in Hebron earlier this week by an IDF soldier.

The soldier was filmed telling Issa Amro that he could not pass through a street as the activist led a tour of the divided West Bank city for an American journalist. The soldier then demanded Amro delete the video he was filming of the altercation. When Amro refused, the soldier grabbed, choked and kicked him in front of the New Yorker reporter, whose clip of the altercation has since gone viral.

The IDF has since reprimanded the soldier and given him a 10-day prison sentence, after which his commanders will decide whether to permanently dismiss him from a combat role.

“We condemn aggression towards civil society and the attack on Issa Amro. We note the IDF has said it disciplined the soldier involved. Authorities must exercise restraint towards civilians in the West Bank, not resort to disproportionate violence anywhere, including at checkpoints,” the US Office of Palestinian Affairs tweets.