Israel Army Chief Warns Soldiers after Wounded Palestinian Shot

Israeli army chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot sent a letter Wednesday warning troops to use appropriate force, after a soldier was caught on video shooting dead a wounded Palestinian assailant.

The soldier -- who last week shot the Palestinian in the head while he was lying prone on the ground -- has been arrested and strongly condemned by top military officials.

But far-right politicians have rallied to his cause, criticized the military's response and protested for his release.

Eisenkot, seen by some Israelis as a voice of moderation amid a wave of violence that erupted in October, said in the letter distributed by the military that soldiers must always behave professionally.

"In all situations, we must act in a professional manner, using force in a measured and considered way in order to remain faithful to our values," Eisenkot said.

"We will not hesitate to hold accountable soldiers and officers who do not respect operational and moral criteria that guide us in our actions."

The 19-year-old soldier who shot the Palestinian appeared in a military court on Tuesday as several hundred of his supporters protested outside.

Prosecutors were seeking to extend his remand in the case, which has gripped the country and sparked political tensions, and the judge decided that he be kept in custody until Thursday.

The soldier's identity has remained secret under a gag order, granted at the request of his lawyers. He holds both Israeli and French nationality.

Video of Thursday's killing in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron spread widely online and threatened to further inflame Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

It showed a 21-year-old Palestinian, who along with another man had allegedly stabbed a soldier minutes earlier, lying on the ground, apparently after being shot.

The soldier then shoots him again, in the head, without any apparent provocation.

A poll released by Israel's Channel 2 television showed 57 percent of Israeli Jews were opposed to the soldier being prosecuted.

Rights activists have labeled it a summary execution, while Palestinian leaders have called on the United Nations to investigate alleged Israeli "extrajudicial killings."

The activist who shot the video of the incident has said he and his family have since received threats.

Violence since October has left 200 Palestinians and 28 Israelis dead.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

But Israeli forces have also been accused of using excessive force in some cases, charges which they have firmly denied.