David Ben Avraham was instructed to raise his hands by an IDF reservist before being fatally shot

No.

6174

Date

21 March, 2024

Found by

Middle East Eye

Location

📍 West Bank - Gush Etzion

Original Social Media Post

"A video shows the final moments before David Ben Avraham, a Palestinian man who had converted to Judaism, was shot dead by an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank. The sixty-three-year-old who was born Sameh Zeitoun was instructed to raise his hands before being fatally shot"
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Archivist Notes: Avraham ben David Assassination

Avraham ben David was a 63 year old Palestinian Jew who was murdered by the Israeli army this 21th March 2024 in the West Bank, it says a lot about Israeli racism:

During the 1929 riots in Hebron, Samah Zaytun's grandfather saved 25 Jews from the massacre. Samah was so moved by his grandfather's story that he decided to convert to Judaism. He attempted to follow the official Israeli conversion process, but was refused, as the authorities refuse any such request from Palestinians. He tried to insist, but without success. Eventually, he managed to be accepted into a conversion program led by a renowned rabbi from Bene Beraq. After a long process, he was declared Jewish and his name was changed to David Ben Abraham.

The PA detained him for 58 days (I'm not sure what the charge was, but I assume it was suspicion of collaboration). He was beaten and mistreated during his detention.

After his conversion, he hoped to be accepted as an Israeli citizen. After all, he was now officially Jewish. He even continued to study Judaism in Jerusalem. But not only did the State of Israel refuse to grant him citizenship, he could not even obtain an entry permit to Israel or a work permit.

He was waiting at a bus stop near the settlement of Elazar in Gush Etzion today. Israeli reserve soldiers suspected him and searched him. After finding a knife in his bag, probably for self-defense, a soldier shot him dead.

"In the meantime, an IDF investigation into the matter was opened, and the reserve fighter Shira was questioned under a warning. The IDF stated that "during an operational activity, an IDF force fired at a Palestinian who aroused his suspicions at Elazar Junction in the Etzion Brigade, an injury was detected and later the death of the Palestinian was determined. Immediately upon receiving the report about the serious incident, the military attorney's office ordered the opening of an investigation by the military police."

On behalf of Capt. (resp.) Mia Katz and Lt. Yasmin Younes representing the soldier on behalf of the military defense, it was stated that "this is an outstanding soldier, who was recruited to serve in the reserves from the beginning of the war, and only recently received a badge of distinction for his heroism in thwarting the stampede attack that took place about three weeks ago in Gush Etzion." According to them, "even in the alleged incident, the soldier acted with determination and we have no doubt that the investigation will clarify the sequence of events and the case will end with another badge of honor that will be awarded to the soldier."

Source 1 Source 2

People in Video: Avraham Ben David

The details for each video come from social media. None of it has been verified.