A Fiery Debate Over Israeli Police Shooting
Crowds gathered at Castleman's parents' home in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Tion for his traditional seven-day shiva, or Jewish mourning period. As concern over his death's circumstances grew across the nation, emotions ran high.
Castleman, a former police officer, was on his way to work when he witnessed two armed men opening fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem. Seconds later, he was caught in the crossfire.
Castleman's friend Guy Itzkovich shared his account with CNN during the shiva: "He saw the attack, stopped the car, got out, drew his weapon, then charged at the terrorists, killing them."
TV footage showed two uniformed soldiers exiting a red vehicle, grabbing weapons. A third man, reportedly a reserve soldier, allegedly mistook Castleman for an attacker and began firing at him. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Castleman may have been struck by a bullet from an Israeli soldier as well.
"When they saw him, I assumed they thought he was a terrorist," Itzkovich explained. "But when Yuval realized they thought as much, he opened his jacket to show he had nothing inside and kneeled down. He put his hands in the air, so they could see he didn't have anything in his hands."
"He shouted in Hebrew. He shouted, 'I'm Israeli.' He threw his wallet and ID on the street to let them know he was Israeli," Itzkovic continued. "They just shot him. 'They shot him,' he said."
Castleman passed away later that day at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Three other victims were killed in the attack, claimed by Hamas.
Castleman's father, Moses, praised his selfless son during the shiva: "Yuval was doing what he was meant to do, as that was his whole life," he told CNN. "He was trained in a safe environment and was doing what was expected of him because we help each other."
He emphasized the necessity of investigating his son's death to prevent a repeat: "The tragic incident of my son must be investigated to prevent such things from happening again."
Itskovich, a friend who served alongside Castleman in the police force, accused the soldier who shot him of violating protocol.
"There are some things you should not do... Even if Yuval had been a terrorist, he had surrendered, and he should have been arrested, not shot," Itskovitch said. "After these agreements, he should not even have been shot."
Itzkovitch expressed doubt that the soldier intentionally disregarded protocol, adding: "They've told us in the army and police that the protocols are very strict. 'It was like a spell,' he said.
"If they woke me up at 4 a.m., I'd tell them exactly what these protocols are. I trust the military and the police, and I know that the orders they gave me were the same orders they gave the others. I was there, and that man – that soldier – ignored them. That's why my friend was killed. 'It's devastating.'"
Israeli Defense Forces initially stated they would not be investigating the incident. However, amid widespread media coverage and public outcry, the Israeli police announced they would conduct an investigation, and later the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed they would participate due to the involvement of a soldier.
IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari expressed his condolences over Castleman's "tragic death."
"The IDF has clear instructions on when and how to shoot, which are all very clear. And there's a clear moral rule - if someone raises their hand, they should not be shot," he added, cautioning: "We cannot prosecute someone for a criminal offense until the investigation is complete. We must wait for the results."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a "thorough investigation" and praised Castleman as a "hero for Israel."
However, his call came after earlier comments from Netanyahu sparked controversy within parts of Israel. In widely criticized remarks regarding the incident, Netanyahu defended the right of Israeli civilians to carry weapons and suggested that some civilian casualties were the "price" of this policy.
On Saturday evening, Netanyahu addressed the issue at a press conference in Tel Aviv, stating: "In the past decade and even earlier, the carrying of weapons by civilians has often saved lives and averted larger disasters."
In response to Netanyahu's comments, Castleman's father said he would not comment because the prime minister made "corrections" to his remarks after understanding what had occurred.
According to the Ministry of National Security, there was an increase in requests for private gun permits following the Hamas attack on October 7. In the month that followed, the Ministry received 180,500 new requests, averaging around 10,000 daily applications, compared to 850 weekly applications before the terror attacks.
Clip from the IDF Spokesperson, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, discussing the tragedy: [VIDEO]
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Enrichment Data for Background
A key factor in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the role of self-defense and armed civilian populations, as seen in the Givat Shaul shooting. In 2004, Israel adopted a "right to carry" policy, allowing citizens to carry firearms for self-defense. This change in legislation was a direct response to the Second Intifada, a notorious period of widespread violence and terror attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces.
Following the attack on November 30, 2023, the Israeli public's conversation about armed civilians and possible changes to firearm policies has intensified. Some argue that greater civilian armament and competence is essential to protect Israeli citizens in the face of heightened terror threats. Others maintain that such an approach risks increasing the risk of misunderstandings and violent escalations like the Givat Shaul shooting.
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Enrichment Data: Despite the report not explicitly detailing the investigation's outcome, the tragedy at Givat Shaul holds broader implications for Israel's military and civilian policies. According to the Ministry of National Security, the number of applications for private gun permits skyrocketed after the Hamas attack on October 7, signaling a growing demand for security and self-defense measures among Israeli citizens. Concurrently, the right to carry policy is a focal point of ongoing debate and potential reform discussions in the country.
