Growing Backlash Following Police Shooting of Israeli Civilian in Jerusalem Attack
Mourning the loss of Yuval Castleman, an Israeli civilian hailed for his bravery during a deadly terror attack in Jerusalem As backlash surges, friends and relatives unite to honor his heroic response and demand justice for his tragic shooting
Loved ones and acquaintances came together on Monday to mourn the passing of Yuval Castleman, the Israeli civilian who bravely defended against a terror attack in Jerusalem by fatally shooting the perpetrators, only to be tragically shot and killed by an Israeli reservist soldier. Many traveled to Castleman's parents' residence in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Tivon to partake in the traditional seven-day Jewish mourning period, known as shiva, as frustration has mounted nationwide over the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise.
Former police officer Castleman witnessed a shooting at a bus stop in Jerusalem while driving to work on Thursday. Without hesitation, he stopped his car, grabbed his gun, and charged at the gunmen, killing both of them, as reported by his friend Guy Itzkovich during the shiva on CNN.
The video depicted two soldiers in uniform hastily exiting a red car and arming themselves. According to the Israeli military, a third individual identified as an army reservist, wrongly perceived Castleman as a threat and began firing at him. The IDF reported that bullets from one of the Israeli soldiers may have also hit Castleman. "When the soldiers saw him, I assume they thought he was a terrorist. But then when Yuval realized that's what they're thinking, he opened his jacket to show he had nothing underneath, and got down on his knees. He opened his hands, so they could see he had nothing in his hands," Itkovich stated.
"He was yelling in Hebrew, declaring 'I'm an Israeli!' Then he threw his wallet and identification on the ground, making it clear that he was Israeli. Despite this, they still shot him down," he said.
Israeli police said the attackers opened fire on civilians at the bus station at about 7:40 a.m. on Thursday.
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Castleman passed away at the Shaare Zedek medical center on Thursday. Three others were also tragically killed in the attack, for which responsibility was claimed by Hamas.
During the shiva for Castleman on Monday, his father Moshe spoke highly of his "heroic" son.
"Yuval fulfilled his duty as expected, as he had always been the type of person to do so," he explained to CNN. "He was well-versed in security practices and carried out the task assigned to him because it is our obligation to assist one another."
Moshe emphasized the need for an inquiry into his son's tragic shooting "in order to prevent future occurrences."
Itzkovich, who worked in the police force with Castleman, alleged that the soldier who shot him had breached the protocols. "There are specific actions that should not be taken. Even if Yuval was a terrorist - even if the person they believed to be a terrorist was actually one - he had surrendered," Itzkovich stated. "According to these protocols, they were supposed to arrest him. There was no reason for him to be shot."
Itzkovich expressed his astonishment that the soldier had disregarded the protocols that he claimed are ingrained in Israeli police and military personnel. "In the army and police force, we were taught that the protocols are extremely strict. It's like a mantra," he said.
First responders at the scene of the shooting on Thursday.
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Hamas says its militants killed three people at Jerusalem bus stop
"If you wake me up at 4 in the morning, I will tell you exactly what those protocols are. I trust the army and the police force, and I know they gave the orders exactly as they gave them to me when I was there. This soldier - he ignored them. It's not that he didn't know them, he just ignored them. And that's what led to my friend's death. It's devastating."
Initially, the IDF stated they would not investigate the incident. However, after widespread media coverage of Castlemans death, Israel Police announced they would investigate the case. Following this, the IDF decided to join the investigation because the suspect in the killing is a soldier.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the IDF, expressed his "deep sorrow" over Castlemans' "tragic death."
Hagari emphasized that the IDF has specific guidelines for when and how to use force, and that there is a clear moral standard that should be followed. He cautioned that until the investigation is complete, it is important to withhold judgment and wait for the outcomes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged for a comprehensive investigation into the shooting, hailing Castleman as a "hero of Israel." However, his initial remarks defending the right of Israeli citizens to bear arms and implying that civilian deaths were an inevitable consequence drew significant criticism within the country. He was quoted saying, "That's life."
"In a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, Netanyahu stated that armed civilians have historically saved lives and prevented major catastrophes during upticks of terror. He expressed his continued support for this policy under the current circumstances, acknowledging that there may be costs involved. In response to Netanyahu's comments, Castlemans father declined to discuss them, citing the Prime Minister's later statement that his son was a hero and that was the reality of the situation."
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, there was a significant increase in applications to carry private firearms in Israel, with the Ministry of National Security reporting 180,500 new applications as of October 30. This marked a notable surge in comparison to the previous average of 850 new requests per week, with the ministry's centers now receiving around 10,000 new requests per day. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, has expressed support for more Israelis to carry firearms.
