An Israeli soldier convicted of killing a wounded Palestinian has been released after serving nine months in prison.
Elor Azaria will walk free after serving two-thirds of his 14-month sentence.
When he was 19 Azaria killed Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in an act captured on video by an Israeli human rights group.
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Israeli soldier Elor Azaria is lifted by friends near his family home in Ramla, near Tel Aviv, as they celebrate his release from prison (AFP/Getty)
In the footage the 21-year-old Palestinian could be seen lying wounded on the ground in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, having been shot after he had stabbed an Israeli soldier.
Azaria shot the immobile assailant in the head at point-blank range.
The former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) combat medic was initially sentenced to 18 months in August after he was convicted of manslaughter.
Israel’s military chief, Gadi Eisenkot, later reduced the sentence by four months.
His release was brought forward by two days after he requested to attend his brother’s wedding, Haaretz reported.
Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during mass demonstrations
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Palestinians clash with Israeli troops during mass demonstrations
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Palestinian protesters flee from teargas
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Israeli soldiers stand as Palestinian protesters gather on the Israel Gaza border
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A Palestinian is carried on a stretcher after being injured during the demonstration
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Israeli soldiers take aim as they lie prone over an earth barrier along the border with the Gaza strip in the southern Israeli kibbutz of Nahal Oz as Palestinians demonstrate on the other side commemorating Land Day
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Palestinian paramedics evacuate an injured man on the Gaza side of the Israel-Gaza border
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Palestinians demonstrate with crossed-out posters depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, during a tent city protest near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip
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Palestinian protesters flee from teargas
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Israeli soldiers shoot tear gas grenades towards the Palestinian tent city protest commemorating Land Day
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Palestinian protesters take cover from Israeli troops
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Palestinians chant slogans as they attend a demonstration near the Gaza Strip border
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Palestinian protesters flee from teargas
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Israeli soldiers stand as Palestinian protesters gather on the Israel Gaza border
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A Palestinian is carried on a stretcher after being injured during the demonstration
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Israeli soldiers take aim as they lie prone over an earth barrier along the border with the Gaza strip in the southern Israeli kibbutz of Nahal Oz as Palestinians demonstrate on the other side commemorating Land Day
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Palestinian paramedics evacuate an injured man on the Gaza side of the Israel-Gaza border
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Palestinians demonstrate with crossed-out posters depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, during a tent city protest near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip
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Palestinian protesters flee from teargas
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Israeli soldiers shoot tear gas grenades towards the Palestinian tent city protest commemorating Land Day
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Palestinian protesters take cover from Israeli troops
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Palestinians chant slogans as they attend a demonstration near the Gaza Strip border
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Azaria was greeted by supporters and banners welcoming his release, which read: “Welcome home, Elor the hero.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, told reporters he was “glad it’s done with”.
Azaria’s case sharply divided the nation.
While Israel’s military pushed for his prosecution, saying he violated its code of ethics, many Israelis, particularly those on the nationalist right, defended his actions.
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