Israel charges 5 soldiers for abuse of Palestinian detainees in Sde Teiman

The Israeli military announced Wednesday that it has charged five reservist soldiers for allegedly abusing a Palestinian detainee held at the Sde Teiman detention facility in July 2024.

The indictment includes charges of “causing severe injury and abuse under aggravating circumstances,” according to a statement released by the military.

The incident occurred on July 5, 2024, while the soldiers were conducting a search of the detainee, who was reportedly restrained with his hands and feet bound and blindfolded.

According to the indictment, the detainee was subjected to physical violence, including beatings, kicking, and the use of a taser. The prosecution says that the detainee suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a punctured lung, and internal injuries requiring surgery.

Investigation and indictment details

The military prosecution stated that extensive evidence, including medical records and security footage from the detention facility, was collected during the investigation.

The footage reportedly shows two soldiers holding the detainee against a wall while others inflicted blows and used a blunt object in acts of aggression. Israeli TV station Channel 12 aired what it said was security camera footage from Sde Teiman.

It appeared to show detainees lying stomach-down on the floor while being surrounded by Israeli reservists. A group of the reservists was then seen taking one detainee to a corner of the room while others held up shields to obstruct the view from the cameras.

The indictment further alleges that one of the soldiers used a sharp object to stab the detainee near the rectal area, causing internal tearing and bleeding. Following the incident, the detainee was moved to a hospital, where he underwent emergency medical treatment, including a surgical procedure.

Two of the five accused soldiers are identified as officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel and captain, while the remaining three are lower-ranking reservists.

The Israeli military stated that it takes allegations of abuse seriously and will continue investigating incidents involving potential violations of law.

Legal and political reactions

The indictment has sparked controversy, with legal representatives of the accused soldiers arguing that the charges are politically motivated.

The lawyers assert that their clients were wrongly accused and that initial allegations of sexual assault, which were included in the early stages of the investigation, were later dropped due to lack of evidence.

Attorney Avi Amiram, representing one of the officers, stated: “The accusations of group sexual assault have completely collapsed. These unfounded allegations caused immense damage to our clients and to the reputation of the military. We maintain that the remaining charges are also without merit and will be disproven in court.”

Other defense attorneys labeled the case a “stain on the military justice system,” criticizing the investigation as biased and claiming that their clients were targeted based on political considerations.

Military and government response

The indictment and subsequent protests have led to heightened tensions in Israel.

Following the arrest of the accused soldiers, demonstrations erupted at the military base in southern Israel, with protesters—including members of the Israeli parliament—demanding their release.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi condemned the protests, stating: “The breach of military facilities and obstruction of justice are serious violations of law. The military operates under legal and ethical principles, and all allegations are investigated accordingly.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant responded to the unrest several hours later.

Former MoD Gallant emphasized that “the military operates within the framework of the law, and any violations will be addressed appropriately. We must ensure that legal processes are respected.”

Meanwhile, Netanyahu issued a brief statement calling for “immediate de-escalation” of tensions and condemned the break-ins at military bases.

The case is being closely watched in Israel and abroad, with human rights organizations calling for a thorough and transparent judicial process. The accused soldiers are set to appear in court in the coming weeks.

Sde Teiman military base

Not just the alleged Hamas members but the health care workers also suffered torture from the Israeli forces at the detention facility at the Sde Teiman military base.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published on Aug. 26, 2024, titled “Israel: Palestinian Healthcare Workers Tortured” detailed Israel’s reported torture and ill-treatment toward the people on the base.

“The Israeli government’s mistreatment of Palestinian healthcare workers has continued in the shadows and needs to immediately stop,” said Balkees Jarrah, acting Middle East director at HRW. “The torture and other ill-treatment of doctors, nurses, and paramedics should be thoroughly investigated and appropriately punished, including by the International Criminal Court (ICC).”

A surgeon said he was “wearing scrubs and Crocs” when Israeli forces detained him during their siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, Gaza, in December. “We were 50 healthcare workers, including nurses and doctors,” he said. “The soldier on the microphone ordered men and boys over 15 years old to evacuate the hospital…. When they took us out of the hospital, they told us to undress and stay in our underwear.”

One paramedic said that at the Sde Teiman detention facility he was suspended from a chain attached to handcuffs, electroshocked, denied medical care for broken ribs caused by beatings, and administered what he believed was a psychoactive drug before interrogations. “It was so degrading, it was unbelievable,” he said. “I was helping people as a paramedic, I never expected something like this.” 

Health care workers also reported being punished in detention for moving or speaking, and collectively punished if other detainees spoke. “Sometimes if one spoke, they (soldiers) punished the whole warehouse (at Naqab prison), collectively,” one health care worker said.

“We were forced to strip in the street and remain in our boxers, one by one,” said Osama Tashtash, 28, a doctor at the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia who was arrested in early December at his home nearby.

“For an hour and a half, we were on our knees.” He said that during that period, he and other detainees were exposed to danger from Israeli military operations in the area. He recounted that shrapnel fell on them as Israeli soldiers threw grenades at nearby houses and set them on fire.