Taysir Hayb
Encyclopedia
Idier Wahid Taysir Hayb is an Israeli
sergeant
in the Israel Defense Forces
who shot International Solidarity Movement
civilian activist Tom Hurndall
while on duty in Gaza
on April 11, 2003. Hurndall died in January 2004. Taysir Hayb was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter
. His sentence was reduced in July 2010. He is the brother of Amira al Hayb
, the first Israeli Bedouin female to join the IDF.
and his rifle had a telescopic sight
. He said to have aimed four inches from Hurndall's head, 'but he moved'. Hayb claimed a policy of shooting at unarmed civilians existed at the time.
Subsequently Hayb admitted fabricating his account of events. In May 2004 Taysir Hayb went on trial for manslaughter in the death of Tom Hurndall, obstruction of justice and unbecoming behaviour. In August 2005 he was convicted of manslaughter and obstruction of justice and sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment.
The army committee dismissed arguments from military prosecutors that the early release could harm relations between Israel and the United Kingdom
, and said he "no longer posed any threat to society in their view."
Hayb was finally released on the 8th of September 2010
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
who shot International Solidarity Movement
International Solidarity Movement
The International Solidarity Movement is an organization focused on assisting the Palestinian cause in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict using nonviolent protests. It was founded in 2001 by Ghassan Andoni, a Palestinian activist; Neta Golan, an Israeli activist; Huwaida Arraf, a...
civilian activist Tom Hurndall
Tom Hurndall
Thomas "Tom" Hurndall was a British photography student, a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement , and an activist against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. On 11 April 2003, he was shot in the head in the Gaza Strip by an Israel Defense Forces sniper, Taysir Hayb...
while on duty in Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
on April 11, 2003. Hurndall died in January 2004. Taysir Hayb was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
. His sentence was reduced in July 2010. He is the brother of Amira al Hayb
Amira al Hayb
Amira al Hayb was Israel's first female Bedouin soldier in a combat position. Al-Hayb served in the Israel Defence Forces and the Israel Border Police.-Biography:...
, the first Israeli Bedouin female to join the IDF.
Investigation and Trial
Initially Hayb claimed he had shot at a man in military fatigues who was firing at soldiers. However photographic evidence clearly showed Hurndall was wearing a bright orange jacket denoting he was a foreigner. Hayb was an award-winning marksmanMarksman
A marksman is a person who is skilled in precision, or a sharpshooter shooting, using projectile weapons, such as with a rifle but most commonly with a sniper rifle, to shoot at long range targets...
and his rifle had a telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
. He said to have aimed four inches from Hurndall's head, 'but he moved'. Hayb claimed a policy of shooting at unarmed civilians existed at the time.
Subsequently Hayb admitted fabricating his account of events. In May 2004 Taysir Hayb went on trial for manslaughter in the death of Tom Hurndall, obstruction of justice and unbecoming behaviour. In August 2005 he was convicted of manslaughter and obstruction of justice and sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment.
Release
Hayb was to be released in August 2010 after an army committee headed by Advocate-General Avichai Mandelblit decided to shorten his sentence. He has served six and a half years before being released due to good behavior.The army committee dismissed arguments from military prosecutors that the early release could harm relations between Israel and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and said he "no longer posed any threat to society in their view."
Hayb was finally released on the 8th of September 2010