September 20, 2026
Israeli President Pardons Soldier Who Killed Wounded Palestinian in Jerusalem live
What we know
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog has granted a pardon to Elor Azaria, a former combat medic.
- Azaria was convicted in 2016 of killing a wounded Palestinian attacker.
- The pardon clears Azaria's criminal record and ends a prolonged legal and public dispute.
- The Israel Defense Forces opposed the pardon and had sought to uphold the conviction.
Live updates
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Israeli President Pardons Soldier Who Killed Wounded Palestinian
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has granted a pardon to Elor Azaria, a former combat medic convicted of killing a wounded Palestinian attacker in 2016. The decision clears Azaria's criminal record, concluding a prolonged legal and public dispute. The pardon was issued despite opposition from the Israel Defense Forces, which had sought to uphold the conviction.
Why it matters
The pardon clears Elor Azaria's criminal record, ending a significant legal case involving a soldier convicted of killing a wounded attacker.
The decision overrides the Israel Defense Forces' opposition, highlighting tensions between military judicial processes and presidential authority.
The pardon concludes a prolonged legal and public dispute, reflecting deep societal divisions over the case.