An Israeli soldier who was filmed shooting a wounded Palestinian assailant in the head, has been found guilty of manslaughter by a military court.

The victim was lying on the ground and already unarmed when he was shot in the head.

The soldier believed he was a terrorist who deserved to die.

In delivering her verdict, the head judge systematically rejected all of the soldier's defence arguments.

She said the fact that the man on the ground was a terrorist did not justify such a disproportionate response.

Within minutes of the verdict, leading politicians were already calling for him to be pardoned including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Much of the public, along with leading members of the nationalist ruling coalition, have rallied behind him.

Mr Netanyahu said he supports amnesty for the man, who could face up to 20 years behind bars.

 

CNN's Oren Liebermann said the saga has deeply divided the country.

"Because the idea that the Israeli military is supposed to be the unifying factor of Israeli society -- above the cultures, above different beliefs, above religious versus secular -- and this trial; this moment; this video; this single bullet has changed that. It has pitted politicians against the leadership of the military in this very divisive trial."

It's extremely rare for an Israeli military court to side against a soldier over lethal action taken in the field.