Jerusalem, Israel – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) prosecution has filed an indictment against IDF reservist Sgt (res) Aviad Frija for the fatal shooting of Israeli civilian Yuval Doron Castleman. The incident took place in Jerusalem on November 30, 2023, resulting in the death of Castleman after he had confronted and killed two Hamas terrorists before raising his hands in surrender.
Amidst the chaos of the shooting attack that claimed four lives and injured four others at the entrance to Jerusalem, Castleman, an attorney from Mevaseret Zion with a background in security services, bravely engaged with the terrorists alongside Israeli security forces. In the security footage, Castleman can be seen taking action to neutralize the attackers before becoming the target of Frija’s fatal shots.
Following the shooting, Frija was initially arrested on December 4 but was later released to house arrest by the IDF court on December 5. The decision to release him sparked controversy as questions arose regarding the possible charges Frija could face for shooting Castleman who was clearly surrendering and unarmed, presenting no imminent threat.
While past cases involving IDF soldiers violating rules of engagement have resulted in charges of manslaughter or negligent homicide rather than murder, the circumstances of Castleman’s shooting by Frija have raised concerns. Despite Frija’s claim that Castleman made suspicious movements with his hands after raising them in surrender, the evidence and testimonies surrounding the incident suggest a different narrative.
Frija’s lawyers, Col. (res.) Shlomi Tzfouri and Col. (res.) Ran Cohen Rockberger, have asserted that the footage circulating on social media does not provide an accurate representation of the events leading up to Castleman’s shooting. They maintain that Frija believed he was firing at a terrorist who posed a life-threatening danger and had no intention of conducting an extrajudicial killing.
As the investigation unfolds, the case of Aviad Frija and the shooting of Yuval Castleman continue to raise questions about the rules of engagement for IDF soldiers and the accountability for actions taken in the line of duty. The complexities of this case highlight the challenges faced by military personnel in making split-second decisions in high-pressure situations.