Killing of Mustafa Tamimi
Mustafa Tamimi, a 28-year-old Palestinian taxi driver, was killed when he was hit by a tear gas canister by Israeli forces fired from close range and striking him directly in the face on 9 December 2011 during a weekly protest in Nabi Salih, West Bank. The tear gas canister that struck him was fired from the rear door of a military vehicle at which he was throwing stones while running after it. The incident raised questions about Israeli military behavior when engaging with the demonstrators.
Mustafa Tamimi moments before being hit by a tear gas canister | |
Date | 9 December 2011 (incident) 10 December 2011 (Tamimi's death) |
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Location | Nabi Salih, West Bank, Palestine |
Type | Death in a protest |
Cause | Gas canister shot at close range |
Participants | Palestinian protesters, IDF soldiers |
Outcome | Death of Mustafa Tamimi 10 December 2011 , protests |
Burial | 11 December 2011 |
Inquiries | IDF |
Accused | IDF soldier |
Verdict | According to Israeli army, the soldier firing the canister "did not see any people in the line of fire" and was not criminally liable. |
Some Israeli military officials used social media to defend the army. Israeli army statements said that Tamimi was throwing a rock when he was targeted and that the soldier firing the canister "did not see any people in the line of fire" and was not criminally liable. Tamimi's brother, Louai, rejected the investigation saying he was not approached by the investigators although he said he witnessed the incident as he was standing close to the army jeep at the time of the shot.