A groundbreaking case highlights abuse within detention centers amidst the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Israeli Soldier Sentenced for Abusing Palestinian Detainees in Military Custody
Israeli Soldier Sentenced for Abusing Palestinian Detainees in Military Custody
Military court convicts soldier for assaulting bound and blindfolded detainees in detention facility.
An Israeli military court has sentenced a reservist soldier to seven months in prison after he confessed to the aggravated abuse of Palestinian detainees from Gaza at the Sde Teiman military detention facility. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that the unnamed soldier was convicted due to "multiple incidents" where he physically assaulted detainees while they were handcuffed and blindfolded, including punching them and improperly using his weapon.
The abuse was reportedly witnessed by fellow soldiers, some of whom attempted to intervene, and recorded on the defendant's mobile device. This case, noted by the Haaretz newspaper, marks the first conviction of a soldier for abusing Gazans during the ongoing war with Hamas. The Beit Lid Military Court stated that the soldier admitted to three counts of aggravated assault and one of unbecoming conduct as part of a plea agreement, relating to four specific incidents that occurred between January and June 2024.
Further investigations revealed that a group of masked soldiers may have collaborated in these acts, though their identities remain undisclosed. In addition to his prison sentence, the convict also received a suspended sentence and was demoted to the rank of private. The IDF emphasized the necessity for soldiers to exercise authorized force in adherence to military standards, especially during wartime.
The Sde Teiman facility, established following the escalation of the Gaza war, has been central to reports of severe abuse. In July, protests erupted when far-right demonstrators stormed the facility in response to military police probing nine reservists accused of seriously injuring and raping a detainee; some were later arrested.
Reports from a UN commission of inquiry in October indicated that numerous detainees, including both children and adults from Gaza, faced "widespread and systematic abuse" characterized by physical, psychological, and sexual violence, constituting torture and war crimes. The Israeli government has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting its commitment to international legal standards while professing to conduct thorough investigations into all claims.
Since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, in reaction to a cross-border assault that resulted in multiple casualties, over 47,550 people have reportedly died in Gaza, as noted by the Hamas-run health ministry. Currently, rights group HaMoked states that 1,802 Palestinians from Gaza are detained as "unlawful combatants" in Israeli prisons, excluding military-held prisoners.
The abuse was reportedly witnessed by fellow soldiers, some of whom attempted to intervene, and recorded on the defendant's mobile device. This case, noted by the Haaretz newspaper, marks the first conviction of a soldier for abusing Gazans during the ongoing war with Hamas. The Beit Lid Military Court stated that the soldier admitted to three counts of aggravated assault and one of unbecoming conduct as part of a plea agreement, relating to four specific incidents that occurred between January and June 2024.
Further investigations revealed that a group of masked soldiers may have collaborated in these acts, though their identities remain undisclosed. In addition to his prison sentence, the convict also received a suspended sentence and was demoted to the rank of private. The IDF emphasized the necessity for soldiers to exercise authorized force in adherence to military standards, especially during wartime.
The Sde Teiman facility, established following the escalation of the Gaza war, has been central to reports of severe abuse. In July, protests erupted when far-right demonstrators stormed the facility in response to military police probing nine reservists accused of seriously injuring and raping a detainee; some were later arrested.
Reports from a UN commission of inquiry in October indicated that numerous detainees, including both children and adults from Gaza, faced "widespread and systematic abuse" characterized by physical, psychological, and sexual violence, constituting torture and war crimes. The Israeli government has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting its commitment to international legal standards while professing to conduct thorough investigations into all claims.
Since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, in reaction to a cross-border assault that resulted in multiple casualties, over 47,550 people have reportedly died in Gaza, as noted by the Hamas-run health ministry. Currently, rights group HaMoked states that 1,802 Palestinians from Gaza are detained as "unlawful combatants" in Israeli prisons, excluding military-held prisoners.
