Slain Defense Ministry employee's family to sue Channel 2

Abu Latyef family says Ch. 2 slandered deceased's name by accusing Hamas linkage after deadly shooting on Gaza border.

By YASSER OKBI, JPOST.COM STAFF
Salah Shukri Abu Latyef, who was killed at Gaza border. (photo credit: Courtesy)
Salah Shukri Abu Latyef, who was killed at Gaza border.
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Abu Latyef family, who lost their son Salah Shukri Abu Latyef, 22, in a shooting on the Gaza border December 24, while he was working as a Defense Ministry employee fixing the Gaza border fence, announced Saturday their intention to sue Channel 2.
Khaled Abu Latyef, cousin of the late Salah Shukri Abu Latyef, told 'The Post' that a Channel 2 reporter had tarnished the name of the deceased, claiming that his uncle was a battalion commander in Hamas, despite the fact that all the cousins ​​on both his father and mother's side are residents and natives of Rahat in Israel and the family has no contact directly or indirectly with Hamas.
Thursday ended the three days of mourning for the family, but dozens continued Thursday night to go to the family's home to continue mourning. The family thanked the Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon and MK Reuven Rivlin who came to comfort them, and the Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for sending his condolences. No Arab MK's besides MK Taleb Abu Arar had visited the family.
Salah Shukri Abu Latyef, 22, from Rahat, was working for Shabbat Drilling operating a tractor at the Gaza border when he was shot and struck in the center of his chest by a Palestinian sniper, according to the army's assessment.
He was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba where he later succumbed to his wounds.
Israeli media reported that the Palestinian militant group Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for the shooting.
"The incident occurred very close to the border," one security source said.
"This was his first day working on the Gaza Strip border and unfortunately it was also his last day of life," Latyef's cousin said.