Detention of Israeli Reservists at Military Base Amid Allegations of Abuse

Detention of Israeli Reservists Sparks Tensions at Military Base

On Monday, Israeli military police apprehended a minimum of nine reservists at a military installation known as Sde Teiman, where a significant number of Palestinians from Gaza are currently being detained. The military authorities stated that these reservists are being questioned as part of an investigation into “suspected substantial abuse of a detainee.” However, specific details regarding the allegations of abuse were not disclosed.

Reports from various Israeli media outlets indicate that one Palestinian detainee was hospitalized due to a severe injury to his anus, with some sources alleging that the reservists are being accused of sexually abusing him. This situation quickly escalated into a crisis at the base, as videos shared on social media depicted reservists expressing their anger over the military’s actions—a rare occurrence of Israeli soldiers confronting their own chain of command.

As tensions mounted, the situation evolved into a full-blown standoff. Videos captured the moment when a group of flag-waving civilian protesters forcefully entered the military base through its metal gates to show their support for the detained reservists. By late afternoon, the military reported that police and soldiers had successfully expelled the protesters from the base.

The confrontation highlighted the growing boldness of Israel’s far-right factions. Among the protesters at Sde Teiman was at least one far-right lawmaker, Zvi Sukkot, representing the Religious Zionist Party. Footage showed him attempting to squeeze through a gate while being resisted by a uniformed military personnel. Additionally, Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionist Party, publicly stated that soldiers should not be treated as “criminals” during such detentions.