Rabat – Tensions have escalated in Israel after the detention of nine soldiers accused of abusing a Palestinian detainee. On Monday, far-right protesters, including members of the Knesset, clashed with military police at the Sde Teiman detention facility in a bid to halt the investigation.
The soldiers face allegations of severe mistreatment, with reports saying that the Palestinian detainee was in critical condition, unable to walk after the incident.
The Israeli military confirmed the detention of the soldiers from Force 100, a unit responsible for guarding Sde Teiman. Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, Israel’s military advocate general, initiated an investigation into the allegations of “substantial abuse” after the Palestinian prisoner was hospitalized with severe injuries.
The move has prompted a significant backlash from the soldiers’ supporters who argue that they were performing their duties.
Protesters gathered outside the detention facility, waving Israeli flags and chanting “shame” in defense of the soldiers. Some attempted to storm the facility and break into the Beit Lid military base. According to reports, some military police were met with pepper spray during the confrontation.
The protesters, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the investigation and urged the military to cease its inquiry. Smotrich denounced the investigation as an attack on Israel’s “heroic warriors.”
Condemning the protests, Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi emphasized that such actions undermine state security and disrupt military operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also called for calm and emphasized the need to allow authorized investigations to proceed.
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Israeli NGOs, including Breaking the Silence, condemned the protests, accusing them of endorsing brutal treatment of Palestinian detainees. Reports from rights groups and international organizations underlined ongoing concerns about abuse and poor conditions in Israeli prisons, including the Sde Teiman facility.
Amnesty International and other rights groups have called for an end to the indefinite detention of Palestinians and documented severe abuse, including torture and inadequate medical care, in Israeli prisons.
The abuse and mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons has been a longstanding issue, predating the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.
Palestinian detainees have reported various forms of mistreatment, including physical abuse, inadequate medical care, and harsh detention conditions.
