The video released by the B’Tselem rights group shows a Palestinian rushing at the vehicle, throwing an object at the windshield and running away. The vehicle then stops, a soldier jumps out, aims his gun and charges. The soldier’s face cannot be seen clearly and the video has no sound.
The military earlier said that Shomer had exhausted “all measures” before firing at 17-year-old Mohammed al-Kusbah and released pictures of the vehicle’s smashed windshield. On Sunday, the Israeli military said it was still investigating the shooting and declined to comment further.
Palestinian Hospital physician Samer Saliba said at the time that al-Kusbah was shot in the face and back.
B’Tselem said the footage makes the military’s earlier explanation “unreasonable” and called the killing “unlawful.”
Thaer al-Kusbah, the brother of the teen killed, said the officer could have apprehended him rather than shooting him dead.
“It’s clear that Mohammed threw a stone, and the officer came out of the car. He could have arrested him, he could have shot him in the leg, but he wanted to kill him,” al-Kusbah said.
As Mohammed lay dying, say witnesses, Shomer approached him and kicked or pushed him with his foot before leaving and driving away.
None of the officers in the car suffered any injuries.
The killing of Mohammed near the Qalandia checkpoint last Friday received widespread coverage in the Israeli media, both because of the seniority of the officer involved – a brigade commander, Col Yisrael Shomer, and because of the support he received immediately after the shooting from senior members of Israel’s government, including education minister Naftali Bennett.
Sarit Michaeli of B’Tselem added: “The central issue for us is that this action by the highest-ranking officer in the region – backed up by military commanders – suggests that the disproportionate use of force won’t be sanctioned but will condoned. And that s is very dangerous.
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