A video of a Palestinian demonstrator being shot by an IDF sniper across the Gaza border has been circulating on the social networks the last few days. The viral clip, released on April 9, would not have evoked such a huge commotion were it not for the Israeli troops cheering in the background. One soldier could be heard shouting in ecstasy, “Wow! What a video! Yes!” at the sound of the shot being fired and a Palestinian crashing to the ground. It sounded like he just won the last round in a shoot-‘em-up video game. His cheer was followed by a string of curses at the fallen protester, with another soldier saying, “They got someone in the head. What a video! Legendary!” It was a real celebration.
Soon after the video went public, the IDF responded that it was an old clip that had nothing to do with the clashes taking place along the border for the past two weeks that have left at least 30 Palestinians dead. It was later claimed that the video was shot last December near Kibbutz Kisufim, and that the Palestinian wasn’t killed but only shot in the leg, as though that were much better. Regardless, it has yet to be proved in any manner that the Palestinian who was shot was armed or that he posed any threat whatsoever to Israeli troops in the area. Nor has it been shown that the soldier speaking in the video was wrong about the protester getting shot in the head.
Yet even if the event did occur late last year, it is entirely possible that the person behind the video decided to release it now against the background of the growing debate within Israel over whether IDF troops are trigger-happy in dealing with the demonstrators along the Gaza border.
After the first demonstration on March 30, Meretz chair Tamar Zandberg demanded that the IDF conduct an investigation. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman mocked her for it, saying Meretz has proved yet again that it is not part of the State of Israel and that it only represents the Palestinians. In the past, Liberman has accused Arab Knesset members from the Joint List of supporting terrorism. Now, he's expanded his circle of traitors by adding Meretz to his blacklist.
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