Gantz ‘Very Sorry’ for Killing of Unarmed Disabled Palestinian

Defense Minister Benny Gantz expressed his condolences Sunday morning for the death of Eyad Hallaq, a Palestinian man with special needs who was shot and killed by Israeli police Saturday in Jerusalem, ahead of Hallaq's funeral.   

"We are very sorry for this incident," Gantz said in a government meeting. "I am sure the issue will be investigated quickly, and conclusions will be drawn."

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Hallaq's funeral is set to take place later Sunday.  

Hallaq, 32, resided in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Joz. He attended and worked in a special needs school in the Old City, just meters away from where he was shot Saturday morning.

According to a statement by the Border Police, two officers noticed Hallaq carrying a suspicious object that they thought was a gun and ordered him to stop. After the man refused and started fleeing the scene, the officers started chasing him on foot and opened fire, ultimately killing him.

They later discovered that Hallaq was unarmed.   

The Police Internal Investigations Department is investigating the incident.