A special committee established by Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer to investigate the deaths of 13 Arab “civilians” killed by IDF troops in three recent incidents found that the soldiers followed correct procedures in opening fire. The committee, lead by Maj.-Gen. Yitzchak Har'el, said that no disciplinary measures should be taken against any of the troops involved.
On September 1, soldiers killed four Arabs in the Hevron area who were found to be breaking into Jewish-owned property at 3 AM. The soldiers were acting following intelligence warnings of an impending attack. PA sources condemned the killings, saying the four worked nearby - but did not explain why they were going to work at 3 AM with wire-cutting equipment. A day earlier, civilians were killed near Shechem when IDF helicopter gunships targeted the car of top Al-Aqsa Brigade terrorist Rafat Daraghmeh. Daraghmeh was in the midst of planning a major attack for the coming days. On August 28, IDF tank fire killed four Arabs crawling in a closed military zone towards the Gush Katif community of Netzarim. Fearing a potential infiltration, the forces fired and killed them.
On September 1, soldiers killed four Arabs in the Hevron area who were found to be breaking into Jewish-owned property at 3 AM. The soldiers were acting following intelligence warnings of an impending attack. PA sources condemned the killings, saying the four worked nearby - but did not explain why they were going to work at 3 AM with wire-cutting equipment. A day earlier, civilians were killed near Shechem when IDF helicopter gunships targeted the car of top Al-Aqsa Brigade terrorist Rafat Daraghmeh. Daraghmeh was in the midst of planning a major attack for the coming days. On August 28, IDF tank fire killed four Arabs crawling in a closed military zone towards the Gush Katif community of Netzarim. Fearing a potential infiltration, the forces fired and killed them.