Israel's military has launched an investigation into the suspected abuse of a Palestinian detainee at a detention camp used for prisoners captured during the Gaza war. This move has sparked a significant backlash from right-wing protesters and politicians.
The inquiry, ordered by the military's Advocate General, follows reports of substantial abuse of a detainee. "Following suspected substantial abuse of a detainee," the military stated, without providing further details. Army Radio reported that about ten reserve soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention site are suspected of abusing a prisoner from an elite unit of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Rights groups, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), have previously alleged serious abuse at the camp, a former military base in the Negev desert, which is slated for closure. These allegations include extreme use of physical restraints, beatings, neglect of medical problems, and arbitrary punishments.
As military police arrived at Sde Teiman to investigate, a number of civilian protesters, including far-right members of parliament, gathered outside, condemning the investigation. Some protesters even attempted to break into the base. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant denounced the break-in attempt, emphasizing the importance of maintaining order and discipline.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the military chief of staff, defended the investigation, stating that it upholds the honor of Israel's military (IDF). "We are in the midst of a war, and actions of this type endanger the security of the state," Halevi said. "It is precisely these investigations that protect our soldiers in Israel and the world and preserve IDF values."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent figure in Netanyahu's nationalist-religious bloc, criticized the arrests, arguing that the soldiers should be treated as heroes rather than criminals. "IDF soldiers deserve respect," Smotrich said in a video message, calling on the military advocate general to "take your hands off our heroic warriors."
The IDF confirmed that nine soldiers were taken for questioning following a heated argument with military police at the base. The tenth suspect was not immediately detained. The investigation was initiated after a detained terror suspect was brought to a hospital with signs of serious abuse, including injuries to his anus.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and other far-right politicians announced their intention to protest the soldiers' detention, further intensifying the political fallout. Ben Gvir described the military police's actions as "nothing less than shameful."
Amid the outcry, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein announced an urgent hearing to discuss the situation. "I will not lend a hand to scenes like the one seen today at the base in Sde Teiman," Edelstein said. "Our soldiers are not criminals, and this contemptible pursuit of our soldiers is unacceptable to me."
The controversy has added to the international scrutiny of Israel's conduct during the Gaza war. In May, the U.S. State Department expressed concern over allegations of Israeli abuse of Palestinian detainees. The military announced it was phasing out the use of Sde Teiman following multiple reports of mistreatment.
Throughout the Israel-Hamas war, Sde Teiman has housed over 1,000 detainees from Gaza, many suspected of involvement in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages.
