2 life sentences for terrorist previously released in Shalit deal
Convicted terrorist Ziad Awad murdered Baruch Mizrahi in 2014 in drive-by shooting as he was making its way to Kiryat Arba for Passover; Awad's son sentenced to 20 years for assisting attack; victim’s wife calls for death sentence.
Ziad Awad, the terrorist who was convicted of murdering Chief Superintendent Baruch Mizrahi and wounding his wife Hadas in April 2014, was sentenced to two life sentences on Monday.
The presiding judge also took into account that Awad had carried out the attack despite being one of the terrorists released as part of the Gilad Shalit deal.
Baruch Mizrahi was killed on the eve of Passover while driving with his wife Hadas and five children to the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, to take part in the Passover Seder (feast).
Awad, who is a resident of the Palestinian West Bank town of Idhna, opened fire on the vehicle, killing Baruch, seriously injuring Hadas and lightly wounding one of their children.
"We need to put an end to the terrorists' celebrations," said Hadas following his sentencing. "The Israeli government must immediately push for a death sentence for terrorists."
During the trial, Awad was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon. Since he had already been released as part of the Shalit deal, the court recommended to never again release him as part of any future prisoner swap.
Awad's son, Az Adin Awad, was also sentenced on Monday, to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of aiding Baruch Mizrahi's murder and injuring Hadas. The younger Awad was also ordered to pay the Mizrahi family NIS 250,000.
The sentencing included the harrowing testimony of Baruch's widow. "Harsh images continue to follow us, in our daily familial routine that has been interrupted and unable to recover since the deadly attack," Hadas told the court.
Following the verdict, she added that "the State of Israel allows animals walking on two to continue to celebrate at our expense. Those who carry out these attacks enjoy a wonderous severence package."
She elaborated that "they receive grant money from the Palestinian Authority, supplies from the Red Cross and living conditions that many Israeli families in need can only dream of. We need to put an end to the terrorists' celebrations. The Israeli government must immediately push for a death sentence for terrorists."
