Following outrage from the Palestinians coupled with a demand from the U.S. State Department for “accountability” from Israel over the accidental shooting on Sunday of a teenage girl during a counterterrorism operation in Jenin, the Border Police defended its fighters.

At a military graduation ceremony Wednesday evening, Border Police Commander Amir Cohen said, “These fighters acted with morality, values, courage, and determination and saved human lives, and for that I salute them.”