Israeli army vows disciplinary action over Gaza sniper video

Israel pledged disciplinaryaction on Tuesday over a soldier's leaked video showing an armysniper targeting a Palestinian across the Gaza border fence.

The shooting drew profane praise from an onlooker, but the defence minister suggested the shooting was exemplary.

The 81-second clip surfaced on social media on Monday andled Israeli TV news, with one host calling it "disturbing." Its release followed a surge in Palestinian protests at the Gazaborder in which 30 demonstrators have been killed by the army.

In a statement summarizing a preliminary investigation, amilitary spokesperson said the incident took placeonDec. 22, amid Palestinian unrest at U.S. President DonaldTrump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

The Palestinian who was shot was suspected of organizing a"riot, which included rock hurling and attempts to sabotage thesecurity fence, and lasted about two hours," the statement said.

WARNING: Video emerges allegedly showing Israeli sniper shooting unarmed Palestinian

7 years ago

Duration 1:05

Unverified video draws widespread condemnation, and a promise to investigate

The sniper fired at him once, wounding him in the leg, afterwarningshots and orders to disperse went unheeded, the statementsaid,adding that the video was taken by a soldier from another unit.

"As for the unauthorised filming of an operational event,the distribution of the filmed material and the statements made there, it should be noted that these do not suit the degree ofrestraint expected of IDF[Israel Defence Force]soldiers andwill be dealt with by commanders accordingly," the statementsaid.

It was not clear how many soldiers might face disciplinaryaction, nor how harsh it might be. In the video, a voice can beheard saying, "Yes! Son of a bitch!" asthe Palestinian, whoappears to be standing motionless near the fence, is shot.

Remarking on the video on Tuesday, Israeli Defence MinisterAvigdor Lieberman told reporters: "The Gaza sniper deserves adecoration, and the photographer a demerit."

The Israeli military has stationed sharpshooters to enforcea no-go zone near the border and to stop Palestinian attempts tobreach the fence during a protest that has been called "TheGreat March of Return."

The demonstrations are expected to escalate ahead of theplanned opening of a new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem on May 14,coinciding with Israel's 70th anniversary celebrations.

The protesters are reviving a long-standing demand for theright of return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants totowns and villages from which families fled, or were driven out,when the state of Israel was created in 1948.