Posted on 06/27/2005 9:47:36 AM PDT by minus_273
Tom Hurndall died nine months after falling into a coma A former Israeli soldier has been found guilty of the manslaughter of British student Tom Hurndall in the Gaza Strip. Ex-sergeant Taysir Hayb was convicted at a military court in Ashkelon for the shooting of Mr Hurndall in April 2003.
Mr Hurndall, 22, was involved in protests against the Israeli military in the Palestinian town of Rafah. He died nine months after the shooting.
His father, Anthony, welcomed the guilty verdict, but he said the Israeli army acted with impunity too often.
The defendant was led out of the court in handcuffs and tried to attack a number of photographers and cameramen filming him.
Improper conduct
More than 50 people crowded into the small courtroom on a military base in southern Israel, to hear the verdict - which took more than an hour to read out.
We're concerned there is a policy which seems to be prevalent in Gaza that [Israeli soldiers] feel able to shoot civilians without any accountability
Anthony Hurndall
Killed 'protecting others'
In addition to the manslaughter verdict, Hayb was found guilty of obstruction of justice, incitement to false testimony, false testimony and improper conduct.
The court was told Hayb fired at Mr Hurndall from an Israeli army watchtower, using a sniper rifle with a telescopic sight.
Witnesses said Mr Hurndall, from north London, had been escorting children away from gunfire when he was hit in the head by a single shot.
The Israeli army initially disputed this account, but under pressure from Mr Hurndall's family and the British government it ordered a full investigation. It later indicted Hayb, a member of Israel's Bedouin Arab minority.
Family 'concerned'
Mr Hurndall, a Manchester Metropolitan University journalism and photography student, had been operating as a human shield in the Gaza Strip with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
This is a Palestinian-led organisation that includes Westerners and aims to oppose Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by non-violent means.
Mr Hurndall's sister Sophie said she felt a "huge amount of anger" towards Hayb.
"Tom was rescuing a child," she said, adding that what Hayb did "was the most despicable action you could carry out".
Taysir Hayb tried to attack journalists as he left court But she added: "He's been hung out to dry by the Israeli army who have not taken responsibility for the poor investigation and absolute lack of accountability."
Mr Hurndall's father, who had been sitting in court within touching distance of Hayb, said the guilty verdict was the right one.
But he also expressed concern about the "culture in which this incident took place".
"We're concerned that there is a policy which seems to be prevalent in Gaza, amongst the Israeli soldiers and army, that they feel able to shoot civilians really without any accountability whatsoever."
Civil liberties group Human Rights Watch last week accused Israel of investigating less than 5% of hundreds of cases of Palestinians killed since 2000.
Israeli authorities say there is no policy of tolerating the shooting of civilians.
Hayb is due to be sentenced next week.
He's up in Allah's paradise making nicey-nice with Rachel Corrie, another terrorist sympathizer.
Buried deep in the article.
"His father, Anthony, welcomed the guilty verdict, but he said the Israeli army acted with impunity too often."
Unlike the Palestinians, who are held accountable for all their actions.
Good catch..
Depends on one's point of view and intelligence level, doesn't it?
Being in a war zone and aiding the enemy is a certain recipe for inviting violence.
No, you brainless twit, that is not the most despicable thing a human can do.
Deliberately tagetting children in their sleep, in their school bus, in their pizza parlors is...
I noticed that the lamestream media dropped the story of the girl who was shot in Gaza last year by an IDF soldier (an officer, actually). He was a Druze.
I'd like to feel sympathy for the family, but after reading their satements I can see why he went there and why he is dead.
..................
Between the Gaza pullout and this disgusting verdict Israel's enemies must be ululating in the streets. We'll see the result as more Palis try to commit more murders, and some succeed.
They should make a point of killing "human shields."
Hayb seems a good loyal Bedouin citizen of Israel.
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