RAMALLAH, May 8, 2018 (WAFA) – The Palestinian government condemned on Tuesday the release of an Israeli soldier who killed in cold blood an incapacitated Palestinian in Hebron last year.

It said in a statement that the release of the soldier, Elor Azaria, who was captured on camera shooting and killing Abdul Fattah al-Sharif while lying wounded on the ground and who was sentenced to only nine months in prison for his act, would encourage others to kill Palestinians and get away with it.

“The release of the killer of Abdul Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron after spending only nine months in prison will encourage the cold blooded murder of Palestinians,” said the cabinet statement.

“At a time the occupation authorities have concealed all crimes and extrajudicial execution of innocent Palestinians, including women and children, by occupation soldiers and who were never brought to trial, the sentence and early release (of the soldier) is a green light to the occupation forces to continue with their crimes against our unarmed people,” it said.

Qaddoura Faris, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, also said the release of Azaria will embolden the killing of Palestinians.

“The release proves once again that all the occupation state institutions are accomplices in this case, starting with the president of the state, through all its institutions and ending with the Israeli military judiciary,” he said in a statement.

M.K.