• Rioters storm military base in defence of the nine Israeli soldiers, who are currently being investigated over the rape of a Palestinian detainee.
• High-ranking Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have praised the accused soldiers, calling them “heroes”.
Nine Israeli soldiers from the notorious Sde Teiman detention centre were arrested on Monday for raping a Palestinian detainee who was subsequently hospitalised. However rather than there being outrage over the horrific actions of these soldiers, there is outrage over the arrests of these soldiers by the Israeli far-right. 1,200 rioters including members of the Israeli parliament gathered outside the Beit Lid base, where the nine suspects were taken for questioning. Dozens of people broke into the base before being dispersed by police, who made no arrests at the scene.
The military chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, condemned the break-ins, describing them as “bordering on anarchy” and detrimental to the military. Halevi, who was engaged in discussions on strategic responses to regional threats, had to redirect his attention to the escalating situation at Beit Lid.
The Israeli military police’s raid on Sde Teiman, in order toarrest the nine suspects, was met with fierce resistance. Soldiers reportedly barricaded themselves inside the facility, using pepper spray to fend off the authorities before eventually being taken into custody. The detainee, whose condition has been described as severe with a serious wound in his rectal area, was transferred from Sde Teiman in the Negev desert to a hospital in Beersheba. Reports indicate that he is unable to walk.
A recent UNRWA report highlighted that Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody have faced ill-treatment and abuse, although it did not specify particular facilities. The Washington Post has further detailed the pervasive violence and deprivation within Israel’s prison system, based on interviews with former prisoners, lawyers, and autopsy reports. Since October 7, at least 12 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Israel have died from abuse in Israeli jails, as reported by Physicians for Human Rights Israel. Witness accounts reveal that one inmate died with a ruptured spleen and broken ribs after being beaten, another died due to untreated chronic conditions, and a third inmate perished after hours of screaming for help.
The US Department of State has announced it is investigating allegations of abuse, while rights groups like the Association for Civil Rights in Israel have raised concerns about severe mistreatment at Sde Teiman.
Amnesty International has called for an end to the indefinite detention of Palestinians from Gaza and criticised what it describes as “rampant torture” in Israeli prisons. The organization documented 27 cases of detainees, including five women and a 14-year-old boy, who were held for up to four and a half months without family contact.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the “immediate calming of spirits,” condemning the storming of Sde Teiman. Despite the Knesset being on summer break, an emergency session was scheduled to address the controversy, driven by MPs who sought to defend the soldiers.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees prisons detaining Palestinians, have expressed support for the accused soldiers. Smotrich referred to them as “heroic warriors,” while Ben-Gvir called them the “best heroes” and labelled the arrests as “very shameful”. By glorifying and defending actions such as the rape and torture of detainees, these ministers are not only condoning but also actively encouraging a culture of impunity and violence against Palestinians. This alarming stance reflects an institutional acceptance, if not outright endorsement, of systematic dehumanisation and brutalisation of Palestinians, suggesting an intent to eradicate their dignity and humanity.
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel has condemned the alleged rape, highlighting long-standing reports of abuse within Israeli prisons. Palestinians have reported systematic torture and abuse, particularly following October 7th and the subsequent decimation of Gaza. Reports include physical torture, mock executions, and degrading conditions. Addameer, an NGO supporting Palestinian prisoners, states that there are currently 9,700 Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel. Recent reports indicate instances of rape using metal rods and fire extinguishers.
In response to these allegations, the Israeli High Court issued a conditional order on July 15 seeking to close Sde Teiman, citing non-compliance with legal conditions for detainee treatment. The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel emphasised that the lack of absolute condemnation and the support from far-right leaders enable such abuses.
Israeli MP Hanoch Milwidsky from Netanyahu’s Likud party caused further controversy by suggesting that it is legitimate to rape Palestinian detainees. During a debate in the Knesset, Milwidsky defended the actions of the soldiers under investigation saying that it is legitimate to do anything to the Palestinian detainees, including rape. When directly questioned if he considered rape legitimate, Milwidskyresponded affirmatively, stating, “Yes, if he is a Nukhba, everything is legitimate to do, everything”.
