In response, in July 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) opened an investigation. This investigation came on the heels of accusations that its troops had tortured a Palestinian prisoner to death. A ruling that came after worrying allegations regarding the treatment of the detainee at the Sde Teiman military base. Law enforcement moved quickly to begin investigating these shocking claims. An August 2022 leaked video of a conversation between the mayor and city officials ignited the biggest escalation. It allegedly depicted troops beating and sexually assaulting an Iraqi detainee.
The leaked footage last March justifies our department’s use of the word “extreme” to describe the violence inflicted upon a helpless detainee by officers. According to reports, he was beaten by at least five soldiers, including having his body dragged across the floor and his head stepped on. In one especially egregious case, one of the soldiers reportedly used a knife to stab his detainee in the rectum, causing an injury so severe that it required surgery. Furthermore, the detainee was allegedly tased during the incident, calling into question the treatment of people in custody and care.
The IDF’s legal office moved quickly to open an investigation into these allegations. Then things got tricky when a routine polygraph test raised flags about a few of the soldiers’ communications with reporters picking up the story. As a result, all five Israeli soldiers were arrested—and later indicted—for their roles in the incident.
The scale of the allegations was daunting. Over the course of a 21-minute interview on Channel 11 News, these same accused guards were cast as victims. This redacted version of reality has sparked anger from human rights activists. It has triggered outrage over the military’s response to such incidents.
The probe came under fire when IDF’s legal chief, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, injected herself into the investigation. She was allegedly connected to both the leaking of sensitive information and efforts to cover up this wrongdoing. Her resignation on October 31 was another key turning point in this ongoing saga. The report uncovered systemic problems in IDF legal and command hierarchies.
Thankfully, a civilian swimmer found a device linked to the broader investigation. It had magically continued to work after spending five days in seawater. The ramifications of this device might help shed more light on what led to the leak and subsequent cover-up attempts.
Fears for journalist safety have simultaneously spiked in the wake of this incident, though. Local Channel 12 News placed an armed security detail with MTC reporter Guy Peleg. They fear that he may be irreparably harmed by the nature of his highly sensitive reporting on the case.
Compounding the tragic circumstances, the detainee had been released to Gaza under the terms of a short-lived ceasefire agreement. This announcement only served to confuse the already charged environment. Israel dropped the ball when he didn’t get his testimony under oath or by affidavit once the six IDF soldiers involved were indicted.
Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the severity of the incident, stating it represented “perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment.” This sentiment highlights the deeper ramifications for Israel’s standing connected to the world…
In an unusual statement, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi attempted to defend her actions in shutting down the media release. She stated, “I approved the release of material to the media in an attempt to counter false propaganda against the army’s law enforcement authorities.”
On a more personal level, among the testimonies received, Amichai Eliyahu related how unnerving the situation has made him feel. “I’m crushed,” he said. In prison he will be protected. While countering logic-defying criticisms of humanitarian workers, his words really spoke to the complexity and human toll of such events.
“I would never, ever publish a video that makes IDF soldiers look bad, even when they did something wrong, out of the understanding that it could tarnish our image in the eyes of the entire world.” – Amichai Attali