Israeli President Grants Pardon to Soldier Who Shot Wounded Palestinian
WHO:
CNN - Israeli President Isaac Herzog pardoned Elor Azaria, a soldier who shot a Palestinian attacker.
CNN - The Israeli military's chief of staff is Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
CNN - Defense Minister Israel Katz supported the pardon.
The Guardian - The Palestinian man shot by Azaria was Abdel Fattah al-Sharif.
The Guardian - The then-Defense Minister was Moshe Ya’alon.
WHAT:
CNN - Herzog's decision allows Azaria to “continue with his life” and expunges his criminal record.
CNN - Azaria was sentenced to 18 months in prison for killing Abdel Fattah al-Sharif.
The Guardian - Azaria's conviction for manslaughter occurred in 2017.
The Guardian - Azaria served only nine months of his sentence before being released.
The Guardian - Azaria stated he would “act exactly the same” if faced with the same situation.
WHERE:
CNN - The incident occurred in the occupied West Bank, specifically in Hebron.
The Guardian - The shooting took place after al-Sharif had stabbed a soldier.
WHEN:
CNN - The pardon was announced on a Saturday, prior to Yom Kippur.
CNN - Azaria was 20 years old when he was sentenced.
The Guardian - Azaria's conviction occurred in 2017.
WHY:
CNN - Herzog stated that the “circumstances, the length of time passed, and the sorrow Azaria expressed” justified the pardon.
The Guardian - The pardon was recommended by Defense Minister Israel Katz, citing the spirit of the approaching Yom Kippur holiday.
HOW:
CNN - Azaria shot al-Sharif in the head as he lay injured on the street, captured on video.
The Guardian - Azaria referred to his gunshot as an “operational error” in his request for pardon.
(UPDATED September 20, 2026 13:59 UTC)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has pardoned Elor Azaria, a soldier who shot Palestinian Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in the head while he lay injured on the street, a decision supported by Defense Minister Israel Katz. Azaria, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for manslaughter in 2017 but served only nine months, will now have his criminal record expunged, allowing him to "continue with his life." Herzog justified the pardon by citing the circumstances of the case, the time that has passed, and the sorrow expressed by Azaria, with the announcement coming just before Yom Kippur.