Hundreds of protesters gather over death of Ahuvia Sandak in Jerusalem

The PID is expected to close the case against the officers involved in the incident, which Israel Police believe will lead to escalation in the ongoing protests.

JANUARY 2, 2021 22:46

Demonstrators block light rail in Jerusalem in protest against death of Ahuvia Sandak, a hilltop youth member. (photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE) — Demonstrators block light rail in Jerusalem in protest against death of Ahuvia Sandak, a hilltop youth member.

(photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE)

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside of the Jerusalem headquarters of the Police Investigation Department (PID) last night to protest the death of Ahuvia Sandak, who was killed in a road accident two weeks ago while fleeing from police in the West Bank who were pursing him on suspicion of throwing rocks at Palestinian vehicles, according to Ynet News.

Five protesters were arrested, Ynet News reported

Protesters hurled rocks at police and punctured the tires of a police car, according to Israel Police. Five officers were injured, Israeli media reported.

The protesters are demanding that a special investigation unit be formed to look into the circumstances surrounding Sandak’s death – and that the unit that probes nationalistic crime in the West Bank be closed, Haaretz reported.

Violent protests over Sandak’s death have been ongoing for the past week. On Wednesday, a security official told KAN 11 that the protests are crossing a violent line, and that “police officers are afraid to leave the safety of their cars to manage the protests,” as demonstrators blocked traffic, caused damage to infrastructure and burned garbage bins.

Protesters attacked an Arab civilian’s car that got caught in the disorder on Thursday night, as rocks were hurled, eggs thrown and police officers were attacked. Also on Thursday, damage was caused to roads, trash cans were lit on fire and traffic was blocked.

The state attorney is expected to issue indictments this week against the four youth who were in the vehicle with Sandak, N12 reported Saturday. They are expected to be indicted for endangering human life in a traffic incident after they allegedly threw rocks at Palestinian vehicles before the police chase that ended in Sandak’s death.

At least one of the youth is expected to be indicted on more serious charges, N12 reported.

The PID is expected to close the case against the officers involved in the incident, which Israel Police believe will lead to escalation of the ongoing protests, according to N12.

Otzma Yehudit Party founder Itamar Ben-Gvir said that if the expectations that the case will be closed are correct, then “the PID should be closed immediately. The last youth involved in the case was released on Thursday. It is unclear how the PID can close the case without speaking to the youth when they are released and no police can hear them or are involved in the conversation.

“It is unclear how the PID can ignore the abundance of evidence that the officers acted against the law and against internal police regulations,” he said. “The decision by PID will only increase the division and polarization in Israeli society.”

Ben-Gvir attended the protest, posting footage from it on his Facebook page.

Cody Levine and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.