Father of Duma killer seeks pardon from president, citing 'wrongful conviction'

Amiram Ben Uliel was convicted in 2020 of the murder of three members of the Dawabsheh family in an arson attack in the West Bank village of Duma, and received three life sentences.

In a letter addressed to the President’s Residence, Ben Uliel called for his son’s release, alleging that Amiram was subjected to abusive interrogation methods and has been held in solitary confinement for nearly nine years.

According to Ben Uliel, the court acknowledged the harsh interrogation methods and alleged legal irregularities, yet upheld a conviction based solely on the confession.

He referenced the recent release of Palestinian prisoners as part of a hostage deal, writing, “At a time when 250 murderers, some sentenced to multiple life terms, have been released, Amiram remains imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.”

He argued that the continued incarceration of his son was a “moral distortion” and urged Herzog to intervene.

“Mr. President, do not turn a deaf ear, hear his cry and erase this terrible disgrace,” he wrote.

Amiram has consistently denied any involvement in the murders, with his lawyers previously claiming that his confession was coerced through torture.

The President’s Office has not issued a public response to the clemency request.

The July 2015 attack killed 18-month-old Ali and his parents, Sa’ad and Riham, and destabilized Israeli-Arab relations throughout the region.

Immediately following the handing down of the sentencing, Ben-Uliel’s wife, Orion, and supporters rose to their feet and yelled at the judges, “You are the murderers!”

In 2022, the case reached the Supreme Court, where lawyers for Ben-Uliel told the justices that the Shin Bet tortured him during his interrogation, which should have invalidated his confession and led to his acquittal.