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Terrorist Sentenced to Life for Killing Golani Brigade Soldier
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Samaria Military Court sentenced terrorist Nazmi Abu Bakr to life imprisonment for the May 2020 murder of IDF Sergeant Amit Ben Yigal.
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What happened
- 01The Samaria Military Court sentenced Nazmi Abu Bakr to life imprisonment on Thursday, October 8, 2026, for the murder of Sergeant Amit Ben Yigal.
- 02Sergeant Amit Ben Yigal, a 21-year-old Golani reconnaissance soldier, was killed in May 2020 during an IDF arrest operation in the village of Ya'bad.
- 03Abu Bakr killed the soldier by dropping a heavy concrete construction block from a rooftop, which struck Ben Yigal in the head.
- 04The court convicted Abu Bakr of intentional homicide and obstruction of justice after he tried to mislead investigators by feigning sleep and hiding evidence.
- 05The victim's father, Baruch Ben Yigal, expressed relief at the unanimous verdict but stated that no sentence could replace his only son.
- 06The final sentencing was handed down following a legal battle that lasted six and a half years after the soldier's death.
Ben Yigal, a 21-year-old soldier in the Golani Brigade's reconnaissance unit, was killed during an operational activity to arrest wanted individuals in the village of Ya'bad, near Jenin. Abu Bakr dropped a heavy concrete construction block from a rooftop, striking Ben Yigal in the head and causing fatal injuries.
Following the attack, Abu Bakr attempted to mislead security forces by returning home and pretending to sleep in his children's room. He later disposed of the block fragments in nearby vegetation to hinder the investigation. The court convicted him of intentional homicide and obstruction of justice.
The sentencing concluded a six-and-a-half-year legal battle. The soldier's father, Baruch Ben Yigal, expressed relief that justice had been served but emphasized that no sentence could bring back his only son, adding that he would continue to perpetuate Amit's memory.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 4 newsrooms. Updated
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