The Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas said on Thursday that pressing a reduced charge against the Israeli occupation soldier who executed an autistic Palestinian man “confirms the sadistic nature of the Israeli occupation.”

“Charging the Israeli occupation soldier [who killed Eyad al-Hallaq] with manslaughter proves that all components of the Israeli occupation system are involved in crimes against our people,” Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qasem said.

In a press release, Qasem pointed out that this decision is “not new to the Israeli occupation institutions, which usually exonerates the murderer.”

Qasem called on international human rights to act and hold the Israeli occupation and its military leaders accountable for issuing commands to shoot defenceless Palestinian citizens.       

“With its hostile behaviour, the Israeli occupation will continue committing crimes against our people as long as it feels that it is above the international law,” Qasem continued.