The Israel Defense Forces Military Advocate General, Brigadier-General Avichai Mendelblit, launched an investigation yesterday into the death of a Palestinian shepherdess, who was killed by IDF gunfire on the Gaza Strip border.
The victim, 25-year-old Nafia Abu Musaid, was killed on February 13 of this year.
As Musaid approached the ‘security fence’ surrounding the Gaza Strip, she was shot by a soldier in the armored corps stationed at a watchtower, also known as a ‘fieldbox.’
An investigation on the scene raised the suspicion that the soldier violated the army's rules of engagement. The shooting occurred during daylight hours, at a time when soldiers ostensibly can discern a woman shepherd herding her flock.
Who gave the order?
IDF investigators would also like to ascertain who was authorized to order the soldier to open fire.
The IDF spokespersons office said the advocacy general decided to launch the probe ‘after the suspicion that the shooting was carried out in contravention of mandatory rules of engagement came up.’
Abu Musaid, a resident of Dir el-Balah, and another shepherdess wandered into an area near the fence, in what was once the Kissufim checkpoint, with her flock.
The soldier opened fire, wounding her in the chest. The victim was rushed to Dir el-Balah Hospital, where she died of her injuries.
After the incident, IDF officials said soldiers spotted ‘movement by suspicious figures 50 meters from the fence.’
Palestinian sources countered that the woman stood at a distance hundreds of meters from the fence.
Military sources also claimed that the soldiers fired warning shots in the air that were not aimed at the figures themselves but in their vicinity in order to caution them from moving closer to the fence for fear they would plant an explosive device.