Thomas Hurndall

A military court found IDF Sergeant Tayasir Hib guilty of manslaughter in connection with the killing of British peace activist Thomas Hurndall in April 2003 in Rafah. Hurndall was shot in the head during a demonstration and later died from his wounds.

Hib was also convicted of interfering with the trial and providing false testimony.

Hurndall, a Manchester resident, sustained his injuries while attempting to protect Palestinian children caught in crossfire.

Following the incident, London-based peace activist Raphael Cohen told Ynet the activists were attempting to make it difficult for the IDF to fire at homes.

Bullets were flying above the childrens’ heads and hitting the wall behind them, he said, and frightened children began to run, but some ran to the more dangerous direction.

“Tom saw it and ran toward them. He saved a small child and took him to a shelter and then returned to get two more girls” before being shot, Cohen said.

Hurndall was taken to a Rafah hospital where his condition was defined as “clinical death.”

Hurndall died on January 13, 2004, after spending eight months at a London hospital. The IDF launched an investigation into the incident following intense international pressure initiated by Hurndall’s family.

Reproduced with permission and copyright Ynetnews.