Police snipers on Haifa rooftops: The Association for Civil Rights demands explanations

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel demands that the Israel Police investigate the positioning of snipers on rooftops in Haifa who aimed their weapons at civilians, as documented in photos published by the police themselves. In a letter to commanders, it is argued that this conduct endangers lives and violates regulations, citing a weapon safety procedure that prohibits aiming a weapon at a person without operational justification.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel is demanding that the Israel Police investigate the deployment of snipers in concealed positions on rooftops in Haifa, who aimed their weapons at civilians and vehicles. The appeal was sent on September 9 by attorney Ya'el Zeidman to the Haifa District Commander, Superintendent Yehiel Bohadana, and other commanders. The basis for the appeal is a post published by the police themselves on the official Facebook page of the Haifa station on September 4, containing images of officers aiming weapons from concealed positions behind fences at civilians. The Association argues that the activity, apparently carried out as part of an operation to strengthen governance, does not justify aiming weapons at civilians, and that the only danger seen was to the lives of civilians. The letter cites the police's weapon safety procedure, which prohibits aiming a weapon at a person except in operational activity for the purpose of firing. The Association emphasizes that the very publication of the photos by the police raises concerns of a broader command and ethical failure. The police responded that serious criminal incidents, including murders, had occurred in the area, and that the positioning was based on situational assessments.