FCO welcomes Hurndall conviction

Thursday, 11 August 2005 12:00 AM

The Foreign Office has welcomed today's conviction of an Israeli soldier for the shooting of a British activist in the Gaza strip.

Taysir Hayb, a former sergeant, was sentenced to eight years for shooting 22-year-old Tom Hurndall as he tried to protect Palestinian civilians from gunfire in April 2003.

The peace activist, from north London, was working for the International Solidarity Movement when he was shot in the head. He died nine months later.

At the time of the incident, Hayb claimed he thought he had shot an armed Palestinian, but his family and the British government have since campaigned for justice.

"The British government welcomes the decision to convict the soldier who killed Tom Hurndall," a statement from the Foreign Office said today.

"We hope that the Hurndall family will draw some comfort from the conviction and sentencing of Sgt Taysir today for the unlawful death of their son."

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