Soldier fires rubber-coated metal bullet from short range at demonstrator in Bil’in, March 2008

On 14 March, during a demonstration in Bil’in against the Separation Barrier, an IDF officer fired a rubber-coated metal bullet from very short range at one of the demonstrators. The victim was not armed, was not throwing stones, and did not endanger the security forces. He was taken to Asaf Harofe Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet, which had struck him in the thigh. The incident was filmed on video. The footage shows that the shooter was no more than a few meters from the demonstrator when he fired. Army regulations prohibit the use of rubber-coated bullets at a distance of under forty meters, given that rubber-coated bullets might be lethal when fired from a shorter distance. Following B'Tselem’s letter to the Judge Advocate General’s Office, a Military Police investigation was opened.

Length: 40 seconds