IDF soldier who shot dead an incapacitated Palestinian knifeman is released

An Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead an incapacitated Palestinian assailant has been released from prison.

Former IDF sergeant Elor Azaria was greeted by flag-waving supporters after serving two-thirds of his 14-month sentence.

Earlier this year IDF chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot refused his request for a full pardon, criticising the former soldier over “grave actions for which you did not take responsibility and for which you did not express regret”.

But the sentence was nonetheless reduced by four months “on grounds of compassion and mercy ... taking into account your past as a combat soldier in an operational theater”.