Israeli Military Investigate Cases Of Persecution Of Palestinian Prisoners Who Trigger Demonstration

Sde Teiman, Israel/PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons/Amirber

JAKARTA - The Israeli military conducted an investigation into allegations of mistreatment of a Palestinian detained in a detention camp during the Gaza war.

This persecution case sparked protests from far-right protesters and politicians.

The military said advocate generals had ordered the investigation to follow preliminary allegations of mistreatment of a prisoner. However, there are no further details.

Army radio said military police emerged as part of their investigation at the site of Sde Teiman's detention, where about 10 reserve soldiers are suspected of molesting a prisoner arrested from the elite Palestinian Islamic group Hamas.

Human rights groups including the Civil Rights Association in Israel (ACRI) have accused the existence of serious mistreatment of prisoners in the former military base camp in the Negev desert, which Israel announced would be abolished in stages.

The military had previously announced they were investigating allegations of abuse.

When military police arrived at the camp, a number of civilian protesters, including far-right lawmakers, gathered outside the camp, condemning investigations into soldiers they said were carrying out their duties. Some tried to break in.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the attempted breach of the camp.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, chief of military staff, condemned the protests and defended the investigation, which he said upholds the honor of the Israeli military (IDF).

"We are in the midst of a war, and this kind of action jeopardizes the security of the country," Halevi said in a statement.

"This investigation protects our soldiers in Israel and the world and preserves the values of the IDF," he said.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent leader of the nationalist-religious bloc in the Netanyahu administration and frequently criticized military command, posted a filmed message on social media platform X that said soldiers should be treated like heroes, not criminals.

The widespread reports of mistreatment of prisoners in Israeli prisons added to international pressure on Israel over their actions in the Gaza war, which is now approaching the start of the 11th month.

In May, the US State Department said it was investigating allegations of Israeli abuse against Palestinian prisoners.