Israel Strikes Back After 24 Years: 'Iconic' Palestinian Killer Aziz Salha Killed in Gaza Attack

ramallah, gaza - Palestinian media reported that Aziz Salha, who was part of a group that overpowered Israeli soldiers in 2000, has been killed in a recent bombing in Gaza.

Palestinian media outlets have reported, according to Times of Israel, that Aziz Salha, a 'symbolic' Palestinian figure, was killed in a recent bombing attack in Gaza. Salha was involved in a violent incident back in 2000 in Ramallah where a Palestinian mob overpowered Israeli soldiers, sparking worldwide outrage with a bloody image captured during the event.

In response, Israel took strict actions, swiftly arresting several Palestinians, including police officers, for their involvement in the killing. Salha, who was 20 at the time, was eventually arrested on June 25, 2001, confessing to strangling one of the Israeli soldiers. He was sentenced to life imprisonment but was later released ten years later in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

According to Palestinian sources, Salha was reportedly killed in the recent bombardment in Gaza, although it is unclear if he was specifically targeted. The Israeli army destroyed abandoned schools believed by IDF to be housing a Hamas command center, resulting in the death of around twenty individuals, including Salha. Hamas claims the casualties to be 51.

The tragic death of the 33-year-old Israeli reservist in 2000 was preceded by a fatal mistake. The soldier driving mistakenly entered Ramallah amid heightened tensions and clashes with stone-throwers.

Israeli soldiers Yosef Avrahami and Vadim Norzhic were arrested by Palestinian police and brought to a station, where they were brutally murdered by a frenzied Palestinian mob using knives, kicks, and bare hands. One was severely injured in the attack.

A notorious photo of bloodied hands emerged as one of the killers triumphantly appeared in a window. The victims were mistreated, with one body being spitted and kicked, dragged through the streets, and set on fire.