IDF officers reprimanded, unit transferred over death of 80-year-old Palestinian
Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad, 80, was stopped at an IDF checkpoint in search of illicit weapons north of Ramallah three weeks ago. When he refused to let his car be searched, his hands were cuffed, he was gagged, and told to sit on the ground. Half an hour later, the soldiers came to free the 80-year old detainee and found him unconscious. Assuming As’ad to have fallen asleep, they neglected to check his condition or, if necessary, calling for medical assistance before leaving the scene. An investigation of the incident found the IDF unit Netzah Yehuda battalion to be in breach of the IDF’s moral values, such as respect for human dignity and compassion with regard to an elderly detainee. IDF chief Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi ordered the immediate dismissal of the unit’s company and battalion commanders and the unit’s transfer to another sector.