Israeli court adjourns trial of seven Palestinians over Itamar shooting

The Israeli Salem Military Court today has adjourned the trial of seven Palestinian prisoners from Nablus, northern West Bank accused in the Itamar shooting attack during which an Israeli army officer and his wife were killed.

The family of Amjad Elewi, one of the prisoners said the court has adjourned the trial until June 27, after accusing the seven men with murder, noting that there is a high possibility that the court will accept the Israeli prosecution request and sentence the men to two life sentences.

The family said in remarks to Quds Press news site that the Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday has also adjourned hearing a petition submitted against the Israeli army decision to demolish the family house of prisoner Bassam Sayeh who suffers from cancer until 1 June.

The family explained that the court has asked the Israeli intelligence agency, Shin Bet to provide evidence for the next court session to prove Elewi and Sayeh’s involvement in the operation to issue a final decision on the demolition of their homes.

The Israeli authorities accuse the five men of belonging to a Hamas cell and conducting the shooting in October, last year which resulted in the killing of an Israeli army officer and his wife.

The Israeli army has demolished of homes of five of the seven men including, Ragheb Elewi, Samir Kusa, Yahya al-Haj Hamad, Karam al-Masri, and Zaid Amer.