14yo Palestinian Given Life For Stabbed Off Duty IDF Man

Story ByLee Bullen, Sub EditorJoseph Golder, AgencyNewsflash

An Israeli appeals court has increased the sentence of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who was involved in the supermarket stabbing of an off-duty soldier in 2016 to life imprisonment.

Military prosecutors reportedly asked for life imprisonment for all three who were originally sentenced to between 32 and 35 years in jail.

Off-duty soldier Tuvia Yanai Weissman was killed in a West Bank supermarket in 2016.

Newsflash/Yanai Weissman

The youngest defendant, identified by his initials A.T., was 14 years old at the time of the killing and was originally sentenced to 35 years in prison because of his age and for expressing remorse.

One of the other Palestinian youths, who was 16 years old at the time, took part in the planning but was turned away by a supermarket worker before the attack happened.

His appeal for a life sentence was not accepted and his original 32-year term stands, according to reports.

Newsflash/@yael.campuss

The third attacker, age not disclosed, who stabbed the off-duty soldier, was originally sentenced to 35 years in jail and his term has been increased to life following the appeal.

Haim Bleicher, lawyer for the Weissman family, told local media: “We welcome the life sentence for the accused murderer, despite his age.

“The Arab enemy incites and acts to destroy Jews because they’re Jews.”

Newsflash/@yael.campus

On 18th February 2016, the three teenagers went to the Rami Levy supermarket in an industrial area north of Jerusalem armed with blades.

One of the Palestinian teens was turned away by a supermarket worker, but the other two were allowed in and they immediately began stabbing an Israeli man, seriously injuring him.

Weissman was shopping with his wife and baby daughter when the incident took place and he rushed to stop the knife attack.

Newsflash/@yael.campus

During the struggle, Weissman, who was off-duty and unarmed at the time, was fatally wounded and he later died in hospital.

The two knifemen tried to flee the scene, but an armed civilian shot and wounded them.

The third suspect was detained several days later.

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