Israeli Soldier Receives One-month Sentence Over Death of Gaza Teenager

That the Parliament notes reports of the decision of a military court in Israel to convict an unnamed Israeli soldier over the killing of a 15-year-old Gazan protester during a series of demonstrations in 2018 referred to as the Great March of Return; understands that the protester was identified by Gazan officials as Othman Helles; further understands that the soldier accepted a plea deal of the charge of disobeying an order leading to a threat to life or health, punished with a “month of military labour” and a demotion in rank; considers that this sentence is wholly disproportionate to the death of Mr Helles; notes the comments by Santiago Canton, the chair of the UN Independent Inquiry on the 2018 Gaza Protests, that there were “reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli soldiers committed violations of international human rights and humanitarian law”, and calls on the Israeli Government to give what it considers proper justice to Mr Helles’ family and all of those living in Gaza.