Since the death of Ahuvia Sandak, z”l, who was tragically killed in a police car chase on Tevet 6 5781/ December 21, 2020, Honenu has been representing those who are insisting on the investigation of the incident and defending the many who are detained while demonstrating for change in police behavior. The car Ahuvia was in with four other boys overturned when the police car collided with it from behind. Please click here for a list of posts connected to the case.
One of the November 2021 protests; Photo credit: Free use
Sunday, January 15, 2023, 18:12 On December 21, 2020, Ahuvia Sandak, z”l, was tragically killed in a police car chase. The car Ahuvia was in with four other boys overturned when an unmarked police car collided with it from behind. Since then, a large number of demonstrations have been held throughout Israel, especially during the first year after the incident when they were at times a weekly occurrence. In November 2021, a demonstration took place at the String Bridge in Jerusalem during which dozens of protesters blocked the street. Several right-wing activists who were standing on a nearby sidewalk were assaulted by policemen, although they were not disrupting traffic. Soon afterward, Honenu assisted the activists in filing a complaint with the Police Investigation Unit (PIU) and demanding that the policemen be put on trial for police brutality. Only recently, more than a year after the incident, the PIU agreed to examine the complaints. Over the past few days, the activists received notices from the PIU stating that the investigative cases would be closed despite video clips clearly showing that policemen had assaulted them.
Honenu Attorney Eladi Weisel, who filed the complaint, stated, “The PIU has again failed in their duty and instead of acting as gatekeepers, have chosen to authorize police brutality, unrestrained brutality against protesters, some of whom were only 14 years old. The protesters were beaten by police with batons in a show of unreasonable and disproportionate force completely lacking in legal justification. When an authority entrusted with investigating policemen receives a large amount of material that documents severe instances of police brutality, they are expected to spare no effort in putting the policemen responsible on trial and eradicating brutality. However, unfortunately, the PIU acted differently. The cases were closed without even a criminal investigation into the complaints, complaints that were supported by clear documentation of severe and unnecessary brutality. This reflects the mood of the system and reveals more of the systemic cover-up.”