Israel’s military police is investigating allegations of serious, sexual abuse at a notorious detention facility holding Palestinians, it has been reported.
Nine IDF soldiers have been arrested after a Palestinian detainee in the Sde Teiman facility in southern Israel suffered a ‘serious injury to an intimate organ’ and was left unable to walk, according to Israeli outlet Haaretz.
The prisoner showed signs of sexual abuse the Times of Israel reported.
However, news of the arrests sparked anger among hard-right groups in the country.
On hearing of the soldiers’ detention, a mob of Israeli protesters rushed towards the facility in a sign of support and to demand their release, with some breaching the facility’s perimeter, live footage broadcast by Israeli broadcasters showed.
At the same time, some protesters attempted to break into the military police base Beit Lid where the detained soldiers were taken for questioning, with more footage showing people gathering outside the base – many waving Israeli flags.
Right-wing protesters wave Israeli flags outside Sde Teiman detention facility, after Israeli Military Police arrived at the site as part of an investigation into suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee, near Beersheba in southern Israel, July 29, 2024
Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman military base, as people protest in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, Monday, July 29, 2024
A protester waves the Israeli national flag in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, outside of the Sde Teiman military base, Monday, July 29, 2024
Hundreds of Israeli protesters, on hearing of the soldiers’ detention, rushed towards the facility in a sign of support and to demand their release
Among the protesters (some pictured above) was Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, according to the Times of Israel
Among the protesters was Israel’s National Security Minister and nationalist politician Itamar Ben Gvir, according to the Times of Israel.
‘The spectacle of Military Police officers coming to arrest our best heroes at Sde Teiman is nothing less than shameful,’ he is reported to have said as he headed to the base alongside other members of his far-right party.
Others tried to quell the mounting tensions.
After protesters broke into the base, IDF chief Herzi Halevi said that it was ‘extremely serious and against the law’.
‘Breaking into a military base and disrupting the order there is serious behavior that is not acceptable in any way,’ he added.
‘We are at war, and actions of this kind endanger the security of the country.
‘I strongly condemn the incident and we are working to restore order at the base.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the gates of the detention facility
The protesters gathered in support of the nine soldiers arrested over alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee
Israeli soldiers going a protest at the gate to Sde Teiman military base, in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, Monday, July 29, 2024
Footage of protesters outside the detention facility after nine IDF soldiers were arrested by military police
Members of the military police were filmed walking onto the base as protesters were shouting in the background
‘I give my full support to the military prosecutor’s office and the investigating military police in the investigation of every incident that is brought to their attention.
‘This is their duty, regardless of rank or position.
‘It is precisely these investigations that protect our soldiers in Israel and the world and preserve the values of the IDF.
‘These investigations are carried out while maintaining the honour of our soldiers of whom we are the commanders.’
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement calling for ‘an immediate calming of passions in the Sde Teiman base.’
He also said he ‘strongly condemns’ the break in at the base which is used to house Hamas terror suspects and other Palestinians detained in Gaza.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that ‘even in times of anger, the law applies to everyone,’ adding: ‘the IDF will continue to act in accordance with the law.’
Other footage from the base showed a heated argument break out between the military police investigators and soldiers at the base.
It was as footage of this row circulated that the Times of Israel said the group of hard-right protesters – encouraged by Ben Gvir – headed towards the base.
Since fighting between Hamas militants and Israeli forces began in Gaza, United Nations agencies, rights advocates, officials in the Hamas-run territory, and ex-prisoners have all alleged abuses during detention.
Israel‘s military has said its detention conditions are in line with international law.
The Sde Teiman facility was set up to detain Palestinians arrested in the Gaza Strip soon after the war there began on October 7 following the attack by Hamas on southern Israel.
The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Many of the protesters, most of whom were men, were waving Israeli flags outside the gates of the detention facility
A man adjusts his kippah (Jewish skullcap) as right-wing Israelis demonstrate next to the Sde Teiman military base near Beersheba, against the detention for questioning of military reservists who were suspected of abuse of a detainee following the October 7 attack in Israel, on July 29, 2024
A protester waves the Israeli national flag in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, outside of the Sde Teiman military base, Monday, July 29, 2024
Militants also seized 251 people, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 39 who the military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory response has killed 39,363 people in Gaza, according to Gaza’s health ministry which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.
Amnesty International this month called on Israel to end the indefinite detention of Gaza Palestinians and what it called ‘rampant torture’ in its prisons.
Amnesty said it had documented 27 cases of Palestinians, including five women and a 14-year-old boy, who were detained ‘for up to four and a half months’ without being able to contact their families.
