| Taysir Hayb | |
| Conviction: | Manslaughter Obstruction of justice |
| Conviction Penalty: | 8 years imprisonment |
| Conviction Status: | Released |
| Occupation: | Israel Defense Forces soldier |
Idier Wahid Taysir Hayb (or al-Heib) (Arabic: تيسير الهيب; Hebrew: תייסיר אל-היב) is a Bedouin Israeli sergeant who shot International Solidarity Movement civilian activist Tom Hurndall, while on duty in Gaza on April 11, 2003. Hurndall died in January 2004, after a nine-month coma. Hayb was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter.[1] [2] [3] [4] His sentence was reduced in July 2010, and he was released after only five years.[5] He is the brother of Amira al Hayb, the first Bedouin Israeli female to join the IDF.
Initially, Hayb claimed he had shot at a man in military fatigues, who was firing at soldiers. However, photographic evidence clearly showed that Hurndall was wearing a bright orange jacket, denoting he was a foreigner. Hayb was an award-winning marksman and his rifle had a telescopic sight. He said he aimed four inches from Hurndall's head, 'but he moved'. Hayb, allegedly, claimed a policy of shooting at unarmed civilians existed at the time.[1] [2] [3] [6]
In May 2004, Taysir Hayb went on trial for manslaughter in the death of Tom Hurndall, obstruction of justice and unbecoming behaviour.[3] In August 2005, he was convicted of manslaughter and obstruction of justice and sentenced to 8 years in prison.[2]
Hayb was to be released in August 2010, after an army committee headed by Advocate-General Avichai Mandelblit decided to shorten his sentence due to good behavior.[7]
The army committee dismissed arguments from military prosecutors that the early release could harm relations between Israel and the United Kingdom, and said he "no longer posed any threat to society in their view."[8] Hayb was finally released on September 8, 2010, after having served six-and-a-half years of his sentence.[9]