{
  "id": 8701784,
  "title": "Israeli president pardons soldier convicted for killing wounded Palestinian",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/israeli-president-pardons-soldier-convicted-for-killing-wounded",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T14:27:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israels-president-pardons-soldier-convicted-killing-wounded-palestinian"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Israeli President Isaac Herzog has pardoned former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, a 21-year-old Palestinian man, in the head after he was wounded by Israeli soldiers in Hebron in 2016. The pardon erases Azaria's criminal record, following more than a decade since the incident. The killing, captured on camera, sparked controversy in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, with the Palestinian foreign ministry calling it an extrajudicial execution and the Israeli military stating Azaria violated the army's ethics code. The Israeli president pardoned Azaria, stating it was in the spirit of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, and to allow him to turn a new page in his life. However, the Israeli military, led by its chief Eyal Zamir, initially opposed the pardon, citing Azaria's lack of public remorse for the killing.",
  "summary": "Israeli President Isaac Herzog has pardoned former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting a wounded Palestinian man, Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, in Hebron in 2016. The pardon erases Azaria's criminal record, more than a decade after the incident, which was captured on camera and sparked outrage in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The killing was deemed an \"extrajudicial execution\" by the Palestinian foreign ministry and a violation of the army's ethics code by the Israeli military. Herzog's office cited Azaria's remorse and the need for a fresh start as reasons for the pardon, which he granted in line with the significance of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/8701784.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Former Israeli PM blasts ‘obnoxious, unbelievable’ lack of charges over Zomi Frankcom killing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/former-israeli-pm-blasts-obnoxious-unbelievable-lack-of-charges-over-8747748",
        "published": "2026-09-20T19:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Former Israeli PM blasts ‘obnoxious, unbelievable’ lack of charges over Zomi Frankcom killing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/former-israeli-pm-blasts-obnoxious-unbelievable-lack-of-charges-over",
        "published": "2026-09-20T19:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Israeli settlers set Palestinian vehicle alight, try to seize child in West Bank",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/israeli-settlers-set-palestinian-vehicle-alight-try-to-seize-child-in",
        "published": "2026-09-20T19:48:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}