14 August 2024: In a recent incident that has sparked outrage and debate, a group of Israeli reservists have been accused of gang-raping a Palestinian detainee. The shocking footage of the abuse has led to a defensive stance from some Israeli politicians, triggering widespread condemnation, reported Al Jazeera.
On August 11, several right-wing politicians openly criticized IDF Chief Prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, accusing her of being biased in favor of Palestinians and demanding her dismissal. Supporters of the five reserve soldiers implicated in the crime even staged protests outside her residence.
Yehuda Schlesinger, a journalist, voiced disturbing opinions, asserting that the detainee “deserved” the abuse as a form of revenge and deterrence, lamenting only that such actions were not yet official state policy.
The accused soldiers are expected to be placed under house arrest while the Military Police completes its investigation. The case has drawn significant attention, with some politicians and public figures defending the accused. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir labeled the arrest of the soldiers as “shameful,” suggesting that such severe actions could be justified if deemed necessary for state security.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a criminal probe into the leak of the video, arguing that it damaged Israel’s international standing. He demanded strict legal action against those responsible for releasing the footage.
In the Knesset, extreme measures against Palestinians were controversially discussed, with Likud party member Hanoch Milwidsky defending the abuse, stating, “If he is a Nukhba [Hamas militant], everything is legitimate to do! Everything!”
The incident at the Sde Teiman detention facility is part of a broader pattern of alleged mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners. A report by the human rights group B’Tselem, titled “Welcome to Hell,” documents widespread abuse in Israeli detention centers, including sexual assault, starvation, and denial of medical care.
Shai Parnes of B’Tselem emphasized that the conditions at Sde Teiman are not unique, stating, “They’re just the tip of the iceberg. Similar accounts of abuse have emerged from 16 different locations across Israel. It’s systematic abuse.”
This case highlights the ongoing and deeply entrenched issues surrounding the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, raising serious questions about human rights and justice in the region.
