An Israeli military court has convicted a soldier of manslaughter over the fatal shooting of an incapacitated Palestinian attacker.

The verdict caps a nine-month saga that has deeply divided the country.

Defence officials have criticised Sergeant Elor Azaria's conduct, while large segments of the Israeli public, along with members of the nationalist ruling coalition, have rallied behind him.

In delivering her verdict, Colonel Maya Heller systematically rejected all of Azaria's defence arguments, saying "the fact that the man on the ground was a terrorist does not justify a disproportionate response".

The court threw out a relative of Azaria, while a second relative stormed out after his conviction.

A young woman called the verdict a disgrace and screamed "the Israeli military is over" before she was thrown out of the courtroom.

Another woman screamed "disgusting leftists" and stormed out.

Azaria sat emotionless as the verdict was delivered.

He is expected to be sentenced in several weeks.

Israel's defence minister said the conviction was "difficult" and that he disagreed with the verdict, but called on the public to respect the court's decision.

Avigdor Lieberman told reporters after Wednesday's ruling that "despite the difficult verdict, the defence establishment will do everything it can to assist the soldier and his family".

He dismissed criticism of the military, saying: "We must keep the army outside every political argument ... and keep it in the widest consensus in Israeli society."