Israel's military has announced that it will review the shooting incident that resulted in the death of a Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip. The man, identified as Ramzi Abu Sahloul, was killed while walking in a group of people waving a white flag. The incident was captured on video and has raised concerns about possible wrongdoing by Israeli soldiers.
The video footage shows a group of five men walking down a street in an area west of the city of Khan Younis. As they walk, they hold their hands in the air, with one of them waving a white flag, a universal sign of surrender. Suddenly, shots are fired, killing Abu Sahloul, a 51-year-old Palestinian shopkeeper who was part of the group.
The shooter is not seen in the video, but the camera pans to show what appears to be an Israeli tank positioned nearby. Ahmed Hijazi, a citizen journalist who filmed the incident, stated that an Israeli tank fired on the group. He also mentioned that the firing continued even after Abu Sahloul was shot.
An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the army is reviewing the shooting, which took place on January 22. The official stated that the video has helped authorities understand that there were military forces in the area and that there may have been possible wrongdoing by soldiers. However, it is not yet clear whether a formal investigation will be conducted.
The Israeli military claims that its forces take great care to verify targets before launching any strikes. However, Palestinians and human rights groups have accused the military of using disproportionate or indiscriminate force during its offensive in Gaza, leading to a high number of civilian casualties. They argue that even when such incidents are captured on video, military investigations rarely result in indictments of the soldiers involved.
The video also includes an interview with Abu Sahloul shortly before he was shot. He explains that the group of men was trying to reach their relatives whom they had left behind while evacuating their home. Abu Sahloul expresses his desire to retrieve his brother but is tragically shot moments later.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, over 26,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials in Gaza. However, Israel contests these figures and states that Hamas militants have embedded themselves within civilian infrastructure, making it difficult to target them without causing harm to civilians. Israel claims that over 9,000 militants have been killed, although no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim.
The widow of Ramzi Abu Sahloul, Hanan Abu Sahloul, recounts a harrowing experience prior to the shooting. She recalls that Israeli forces entered the building where her family and over 300 others were sheltering, ordering them to leave without their belongings. Hanan also mentions a disturbing encounter where a soldier aimed a gun at her head while she tried to retrieve her bag.
The video captured by Ahmed Hijazi shows Hanan frantically running towards her husband after he is shot, screaming in anguish. Meanwhile, the other men in the group hastily carry Abu Sahloul's lifeless body to safety. Gunshots continue to be heard as a pool of blood spreads over his chest, staining the white flag placed upon it by one of the men.
Hanan Abu Sahloul mourns the sudden loss of her husband, expressing her grief over the fact that he was killed without even a chance to say goodbye. The tragic incident has once again highlighted the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the escalating violence resulting in a significant loss of life.
As the international community closely monitors the situation, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken regarding the shooting of Ramzi Abu Sahloul and whether justice will be served for the lives lost amidst the Israel-Hamas war.
