Father of Yovel Kastelman Demands Truth in Son’s Military Shooting Case
Moshe Kastelman, father of the late Yovel Kastelman, spoke out in response to comments made by the mother of Aviyad Frigeh on Channel 7, criticizing the introduction of sectarian discourse into the case. He emphasized that the focus should be on the facts of the incident rather than on Frigeh’s religious background or community affiliation. Kastelman recalled that nearly three years ago, during a terror attack at the entrance to Jerusalem, his son Yovel bravely confronted the attackers, helping to neutralize them and save civilians before being mistakenly shot and killed by soldier Aviyad Frigeh, who suspected him of being a terrorist.
Since then, the family has been caught between ongoing grief and a legal battle over the circumstances of Yovel’s death. Moshe Kastelman expressed understanding for a mother defending her son but insisted the trial must be based solely on evidence, not public sentiment or sectarian identity. He noted that Frigeh himself had requested to be judged on facts alone. The family has attended every hearing since the military trial began in May, hearing witness testimonies and revisiting the events of that day.
The Kastelman family alleges serious investigative failures from the outset and demands a thorough inquiry into the conduct of the investigators. They only agreed to exhume Yovel’s body for an autopsy after discovering that critical medical evidence had not been examined promptly. Moshe described Yovel’s final moments, highlighting that as a former police and border guard officer, Yovel acted professionally by confronting the terrorists and then clearly signaling he was not a threat. He stressed that if there was any doubt, soldiers should have waited and verified before shooting.
Moshe Kastelman also rejected claims that the shooting was merely negligent, stating the family opposed a plea deal based on negligence because the shooting was intentional. They seek a full trial to uncover the truth, not revenge. He concluded with a call for unity in Israeli society and hope that justice will be served for his son’s memory.
