Palestinians sue Israel for killing their relatives

Family members of three Palestinians killed by Israeli troops at the Tarkumya checkpoint, are suing the Israeli army for US $300,000 for each of the three victims.

Attorney Usama Sa'adi from Jerusalem, lawyer of the families which live in Dura, Hebron district, prepared his presentation to the court in which he said the three Palestinians killed had held licenses to work in Israel and returned from work each day. At the Tarkumya checkpoint they were shot and killed "as a result of light hand on the trigger and by fire that was against orders."

The Israeli army is still considering the possibility of bringing to trial the three soldiers who fired from their weapons at the Tarkumya checkpoint and caused the death of the three. However, with the new suit filed by the families, it is not clear if the Israeli army will adhere to its original plan. Should the soldiers face trial, the families' chances of being generously compensated will increase.

The shooting at Tarkumya took place on March 10. The investigative committee of the Israeli army determined that the driver of the car that was carrying the Palestinian workers had no intention of running over or intentionally wounding the soldiers that were stationed at the checkpoint.

In addition to the suit filed in the names of the families of those killed, Sa'adi is also filing a suit to get compensation for those wounded in the incident. One of the wounded is still hospitalized, suffering total paralysis.