An Israeli soldier who is accused of shooting a Palestinian school girl's body at point blank range to 'verfiy the kill' was indicted today in an Israeli military court. According to Palestinian sources, the girl's body was riddled with 20 bullets. The charges include conduct unbecoming an officer and illegal discharge of a weapon. The incident took place on October 5th near Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

The indictment states ''The defendant ... took up a firm stance very close to her, aimed his weapon downward and fired two shots at her from a short range.'

It also indicated that the captain began walking back to the outpost but then 'turned around ... and fired, in full automatic mode, around 10 bullets, until his rifle magazine was empty.'

Army chief Moshe Yaalon told Israel's cabinet the troops in the outpost believed the girl had been sent by militants to lure them out so they could be picked off by snipers. He said she approached the post on a path only used by the military. Palestinian terrorist groups often use children in such roles and have even used young children as suicide bombers.

No plea has been entered as of yet by the defendant in the case. He has not been identified.