An Israeli soldier mistakenly shot and killed an Israeli civilian who was trying to stop two Hamas gunmen from attacking people at a bus stop in Jerusalem, according to Israeli police. The incident occurred during rush hour on Thursday morning when the Palestinian attackers, who were from East Jerusalem, killed three people. Two off-duty soldiers and the civilian, identified as Yuval Doron Castleman, confronted the gunmen and managed to shoot them dead.
The police investigation revealed that the soldier wrongly identified Castleman as a third attacker and fired at him, causing him fatal injuries. Castleman tragically passed away overnight and would have celebrated his 38th birthday on Friday. Security camera footage obtained by Reuters showed a white car stopping near the crowded bus stop, followed by two men jumping out with guns in hand and charging towards the crowd. The Palestinian attackers were then shot shortly after.
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Video circulating on social media captured Castleman firing his weapon at one of the assailants before throwing away his gun. He then fell to his knees and raised his hands in the air, seemingly signaling not to shoot. The police expressed their condolences to Castleman’s family and acknowledged his brave actions in saving lives. They also extended their sympathy to the families of the other victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
This tragic incident highlights the tense and dangerous situation in Jerusalem, where violence between Israelis and Palestinians often erupts. The Israeli soldier’s mistaken identification of Castleman as an attacker underscores the difficult circumstances and split-second decisions faced by security forces in such situations. The police investigation will continue to determine the exact sequence of events and any potential lessons to be learned from this incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
