Palestinian officials condemned an Israeli soldier who was filmed resting on the neck of a Palestinian man in handcuffs.
The incident took place during a demonstration in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday (01 September).
The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident.
Video footage shows Khairi Hanoon, an activist in his 60s, being pushed to the ground by a soldier.
The soldier then crushed Hanoon’s neck and head with his knees for 50 seconds.
Such settlements in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories are considered to violate international law, but Israel considers them legitimate.
“Some elderly people marched, and thought the army was not going to attack us, but we were wrong,” Hanoon was quoted as saying by the Haaretz newspaper.
“I’m 60 years old, what can I do to an armed soldier? But for the soldier at the scene, I was a threat, and within minutes he began to brutally attack me.”
He compared this incident to the actions experienced by George Floyd who died at the hands of the United States police.
“That’s how I felt, and I felt he was choking me,” said Hanoon.
He was later released and returned to his home.
The Israeli military said the video about what happened to Hanoon did not reflect what happened.
The Israeli military says about 200 people were involved in “violent riots” in Shufa. Stones were thrown and soldiers were attacked.
“At one point, a Palestinian, who is known to be the main instigator of many unrest in the West Bank, repeatedly pushed the commander of the force and tried to provoke him,” the Israeli military said.
“The commander restrained himself, but after he was attacked several times, the troops were forced to arrest the alleged perpetrator because he continued to attack the troops and riot.
“The suspect also refused to be arrested, and the troops were forced to handcuff him. After being arrested, the suspected perpetrator received medical treatment at the scene.”
