World Jewish News
IDF soldier dies from errant gunshot
07.08.2009
Or Haddad, a 20-year-old sergeant from Beit Dagan, was named as the Golani Brigade IDF soldier who died late Thursday night after being accidentally shot in the back during a training exercise in the Golan Heights, the IDF Spokesperson said.
The army said that Haddad was accidentally shot by a fellow soldier. He was airlifted to Ziv Hospital in Safed in critical condition, and died while doctors operated on him.
Witnesses from within the base said that the bullet was fired because several soldiers had been playing a game involving their guns.
According to the preliminary IDF investigation, Haddad was hit by gunfire from an adjacent tent. Military police have not ruled out the option that the shot went off while a soldier was cleaning his gun.
Haddad was buried on Friday afternoon at the Rishon Lezion Military Cemetery.
Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yair Naveh, a former OC Home Front Command and OC Central Command, spoke of the incident in harsh terms on Friday morning.
"If it was a game, then it's negligence, and if the bullet was left in the gun following an exercise, then it's still negligence," he told Army Radio. "I really hope it was an accident and not a game though."
"If we've gone back to games with guns, we're in a much more severe situation," he added ominously.
The shooting was the second fatal training accident this week.
On Wednesday, St.-Sgt. Uriel Peretz Liwerant was killed after his tank overturned while crossing a portable bridge during a drill in the Golan.
By JPOST.COM STAFF AND YAAKOV KATZ
Источник: JPost.com
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