Israeli president pardons soldier who killed incapacitated Palestinian attacker

Israeli President Isaac Herzog recently granted a pardon to former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 for the fatal shooting of an incapacitated Palestinian attacker in Hebron. The decision, announced on September 19, 2026, overrules the Israeli military's stance, which had opposed such a move, citing Azaria's alleged lack of remorse or responsibility for his actions. The pardon effectively clears Azaria's criminal record ahead of its automatic expungement date in 2032.

Azaria's conviction stemmed from a March 2016 incident where he shot Abdel-Fattah al-Sharif, a Palestinian who had carried out a stabbing attack but was already wounded and lying on the ground. The event was captured on video and sparked significant national debate within Israel. After serving nine months of an 18-month sentence (which was reduced from the original 18 months to 14 months by the IDF chief of staff), Azaria was released from prison in May 2018.

President Herzog's office stated that the decision was influenced by the passage of time, Azaria's expressed regret, and a desire to allow him to start a new chapter in his life, particularly in the spirit of Yom Kippur. Defense Minister Israel Katz had advocated for the pardon, though previous requests, including one to then-President Reuven Rivlin in 2017, were rejected. The pardon does not, however, lift US sanctions imposed on Azaria by the former Biden administration in 2024, which include a travel ban for him and his immediate family.