Border Police Soldier Testifies Kastelman Showed ID Only After Shooting Ended

Staff Sergeant Adib Mansour, a veteran Border Police soldier and one of the first to reach Yuval Kastelman after he was shot, testified Thursday at the military court in Beit Lid during the trial of reservist soldier Aviad Frige. Mansour stated that Kastelman only pulled out his wallet and ID card after the shooting had stopped. Frige is accused of causing Kastelman's death after mistakenly identifying him as a terrorist during an attack near Jerusalem at the start of the war.

According to Mansour, he initially suspected Kastelman was a terrorist because three armed individuals were present. Mansour approached Kastelman with his weapon aimed, but Kastelman signaled with both hands not to shoot. When about two meters away, Kastelman threw his wallet toward the sidewalk, allowing Mansour to check his ID and realize he was a Jewish Israeli civilian. Kastelman was wounded in the mouth and unable to speak, so the wallet gesture was his way of identifying himself.

Mansour explained he kept his weapon trained on Kastelman out of caution, fearing the suspect might still pose a threat. He emphasized that no shooting occurred while he checked the wallet and ID. Mansour also testified that he heard many shots before arriving but did not see who fired. He mentioned that the gunfire ceased as he approached, before he and another civilian shouted "stop" to prevent accidental shooting.

Defense attorneys for Frige argued Mansour's testimony supports their claim that Frige did not shoot Kastelman after he revealed his identity. They said the testimony is crucial for uncovering the truth and clearing Frige's name, asserting he acted in good faith and that the criminal trial has caused him and his family significant injustice.