An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) medic who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for killing a Palestinian assailant has been released to house arrest.

In March 2016, 20-year-old Elor Azaria shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in the head when he was wounded and immobilised on the ground, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a Tel Aviv military court in January 2017.

His sentence is being considered by a military court of appeals, and will be decided 30 July. Since his three-year military service ends on 20 July, Azaria has been allowed to travel to his parents home in Ramla and will remain there under house arrest until his appeal is heard.

Palestinian man shot by Israeli soldier as he lies on the ground

While his lawyer argued for ‘half house arrest’, under which Azaria would be allowed to leave home during the day, the former sergeant – demoted to private – will only be allowed to leave the house to attend prayers on the Sabbath.

The landmark ruling against the young medic marked the first time a member of the IDF had been convicted of the charge in 12 years – but the case exposed a huge division in Israeli society over attitudes towards the actions of the IDF.

Since military service is compulsory, there is widespread sympathy for members of the army.

Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Neve Dekalim, Gaza Strip, 12 September, 2005. Thousands of Palestinians from nearby Khan Younes enter Neve Dekalim at dawn to see this former Jewish settlement for the first time. Most people tried to find anything still usable in the ruins of the settlement's buildings destroyed by the Israeli army. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Al Tufa'ah, Gaza Strip, 20 January 2009. Nadji Hessenin collapses in tears on his father's grave after burying his children Shourouk Nadji Hessenin, 13, and her brother Abdallah, 12, who were instantly killed upon returning to their house in She' Af Tufa'ah by a Hamas planted booby trap intended for Israeli soldiers. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Rafah, Gaza Strip, June 2010. Most if not all the goods sold in this busy market street in Rafah are brought from Egypt through the tunnel. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Ramallah, West Bank, 13 November, 2004. Sadness and emotion among the people who are coming to honour Palestinian President Yasser Arafat at his grave in the Muqata'a. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Qalqilya, West Bank, January 2003. The only entrance to the city. Palestinian population movements are severely restricted by the Israeli army, no vehicles being allowed in or out some Palestinian cities for weeks on end. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Jenin Refugee Camp, April 2002. In order to search for Palestinian activists, the IDF stormed and occupied the camp for nine days, razing an area the size of three football pitches in the centre of this densely populated zone, totally destroying 95 houses, damaging hundreds of others, leaving 3,000 people homeless. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Ousama Jawabreh, 29, was killed when a public phone he was using in the old quarter of Nablus city exploded on 24 June 2001. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Near Jericho, West Bank, July 2001. Most of the River Jordan valley is militarily closed to the Palestinians, allowing Jewish settlements to thrive on its water and natural resources. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Kfar Kila, South Lebanon, 29 May, 2000. After the Israeli pull-out, thousands of SLA (Lebanese militia financed and trained by Israel in the occupied zone) rushed to this last point of passage in order to escape Israel; abandoning their cars and many of their belongings. For weeks, clothes hanging on the border fence were the only remaining signs of many personal and family tragedies. © Bruno Stevens Ground: Ten years of the Palestinian conflict in pictures Ain el Helweh Palestinian Camp, 15 May, 2000. School children demonstrate on the 52nd anniversary of the Palestinian exile, the 'Neqbah' ('catastrophe'). © Bruno Stevens

Azaria’s lawyers’ claims of self-defence were supported by 65 per cent of the Jewish Israeli public, an August 2016 survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found.

However, Palestinians and rights activists have widely criticised the punishment as not severe enough for the killing, which was recorded on a mobile phone.

The prosecution had sought a sentence of between three and five years, although manslaughter can carry a sentence of up to 20 years under Israeli law.

It is possible that Azaria could walk free after serving 12 months of his sentence, and there have been several high-profile calls for the young recruit to be pardoned altogether.

Sharif’s family had called for Azaria to receive a life sentence.