Israel’s military announced on Thursday that it would not pursue charges against five soldiers who were accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee, an incident that was partially captured on camera. The case, which dates back to 2024 when the soldiers were arrested at the Sde Teiman military prison, has been a source of controversy in the country. The soldiers’ arrest had led to protests by members of the far-right government and hard-line ultranationalists who stormed the prison in anger.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decision to drop the charges, whereas human rights organizations criticized the military for downplaying one of the most severe cases of abuse in the country’s network of wartime prisons. The Sde Teiman facility was established after October 7, 2023, to house Palestinians detained during Israel’s conflict with the Hamas militant group. Reports of mistreatment and torture within the secretive prison emerged from employees and released Palestinian detainees.
Allegations escalated after a leaked video surfaced, showing soldiers reportedly sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner by dragging him on the floor, using a taser on him, and causing multiple injuries by stabbing him in the rectum while he was blindfolded and restrained. The victim was later hospitalized for injuries including fractured ribs and underwent surgery before being returned to the prison.
The military defended its decision to drop the charges by claiming that the leaked video did not depict abuse severe enough to warrant criminal prosecution and was improperly leaked to the media. Moreover, the victim had been returned to Gaza, creating uncertainty about his availability to testify in a trial.
Criticism of the military’s decision was voiced by Sari Bashi, executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, who condemned the move as condoning violence against Palestinian detainees. She highlighted a pattern of worsening abuse since October 7, 2023, and accused the military of whitewashing such incidents.
Netanyahu criticized the investigation, emphasizing the need for Israel to focus on its enemies rather than its soldiers. The case led to the resignation of the military’s top legal official at the time of the soldiers’ arrest. In a subsequent development, it was revealed that the official had approved the leak of the incriminating video, leading to her resignation and a subsequent search for her, during which she was found without her phone on a Tel Aviv beach.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, advocating for the closure of Sde Teiman, alleged severe mistreatment of detainees at the facility, including violence with attack dogs and sexual assault. Israel has faced accusations of failing to hold its soldiers accountable for abuses against Palestinians, especially during conflicts in Gaza. The country maintains that its military operations adhere to legal standards and that it investigates all claims of misconduct thoroughly.
Before the emergence of the surveillance video, the Associated Press had already investigated claims of inhumane treatment and abuse at Sde Teiman.
This article was rewritten to provide a more reader-friendly and SEO-optimized version of the original content.
