The incidents took place at the West Bank villages of Iraq-Bourin and Awarta in late March. In the first incident, two Palestinian teenagers were shot dead by Israeli forces during a demonstration. In the second incident, two Palestinians were killed after being stopped at a surprise checkpoint. The soldiers said the teenagers had tried to attack them with a pitchfork and a beer bottle filled with rocks.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi Samaria decided in a ruling to reprimand Samaria Brigade Commander Maj.-Gen. Itzik Bar over the two incidents.

The Nachshon Battalion commander will also be reprimanded, and the soldier who shot two of the Palestinians dead at Awarta checkpoint will be removed from his position.

In its investigation of the incidents, the Israeli Army Central Command, which also controls the West Bank, concluded that the deaths could have been avoided and were the result of tactical mistakes and a lack of preparation by the forces on the ground.

The investigation of the incidents revealed that had the soldiers been better prepared to deal with the protests, the four deaths could have been prevented.

Hassan Awwad, head of Awarta Council, said that the ruling is "an additional crime against Palestinians and a flagrant evidence of Israel's disdain for Palestinian blood." Speaking to Arab News, Awwad said: "What happened in Awarta was a war crime and a murder in cold blood of two Palestinian farmers who show no resistance to Israeli soldiers."

He rejected the Israeli investigation, which found that the killings were due to tactical mistakes and a lack of preparation.

"Instead of gunning them down from a short distance, the Israeli soldiers could have just arrested them," Awwad said.

"Ashkenazi's choice in filing such a soft indictment shows the Israeli forces' feeble response to these incidents... it send a message to the officers and soldiers that disregarding human lives is acceptable and sets the stage for the next incident."

Awwad called on Israeli defense officials to amend the indictment so it may "reflect the severity of the actions."