| Taysir Hayb | |
|---|---|
| Conviction(s) | manslaughter, obstruction of justice |
| Penalty | 8 years imprisonment |
| Occupation | Israel Defense Forces soldier |
Idier Wahid Taysir Hayb (or al-Heib) 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.[1][2][3][4] His sentence was reduced in July 2010. He is the brother of Amira al Hayb, the first Israeli Bedouin female to join the IDF.
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 marksman 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.[1][2][3][5]
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.[3] In August 2005 he was convicted of manslaughter and obstruction of justice and sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment.[6]
Hayb was to be released in August 2010 after an army committee headed by Advocate-General Avichai Mandelblit decided to shorten his sentence.[7] 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, and said he "no longer posed any threat to society in their view."[8] Hayb was finally released on the 8th of September 2010[9][10]