Israel’s military announced on Thursday the dismissal of charges against five soldiers who were accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee, an incident that was partially captured on camera. The case, which originated from the soldiers’ arrest in 2024 at the infamous Sde Teiman military prison, has been a source of division within the country. Members of the far-right government and hard-line ultranationalists had violently stormed the prison in protest.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decision, while human rights organizations criticized the military for allegedly covering up one of the most severe instances of abuse within the country’s wartime prison system. Sde Teiman, established after October 7, 2023, to house Palestinians detained during Israel’s conflict with the Hamas militant group in Gaza, quickly gained notoriety for reported incidents of mistreatment and torture.
Allegations of abuse gained traction following the broadcast of a leaked video by Israeli news outlets, showing soldiers purportedly engaging in sexual assault against a Palestinian prisoner. The soldiers were accused of dragging the detainee on the floor, using a taser on him, and sexually assaulting him by stabbing him in the rectum, resulting in multiple injuries, according to the indictment. The victim, who was handcuffed, blindfolded, and ankle-cuffed at the time, sustained fractured ribs, blunt trauma to the abdomen and chest, and underwent surgery for a perforated rectum before being returned to the prison.
The military justified dropping the charges by citing that the leaked video did not depict abuse severe enough to warrant criminal prosecution and had been improperly disclosed to the media. Additionally, the decision noted that the victim had been released back to Gaza, creating uncertainty about his ability to testify in a trial.
Sari Bashi, the executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, criticized the military’s move, alleging that it condoned rape by its soldiers, particularly when the victim is Palestinian. She highlighted a pattern of worsening abuses against detainees since October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu expressed disapproval of the investigation, emphasizing that Israel should focus on pursuing its enemies rather than its soldiers. The fallout from the case led to the dismissal of the military’s top legal official at the time of the soldiers’ arrest.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, advocating for the closure of Sde Teiman, claimed that detainees at the facility endure severe punishments, including violence with attack dogs and sexual assault, prolonged periods of being blindfolded and handcuffed, restricted movement and speech, and limited access to hygiene facilities.
Israel has faced accusations of failing to hold its soldiers accountable for crimes against Palestinians, with heightened scrutiny during conflicts in Gaza. The country maintains that its forces adhere to military and international laws and rigorously investigate alleged abuses.
Prior to the leaked surveillance video, the Associated Press had investigated claims of inhumane treatment and abuse at Sde Teiman.