Israeli Military Drops Charges Against Soldiers in Controversial Abuse Case
The Israeli military has decided to drop charges against five soldiers involved in an alleged assault on a Palestinian detainee, an incident partially recorded on camera. This development comes amidst the ongoing conflict with Iran, shifting public focus from the contentious case that has stirred significant national debate since the soldiers’ arrest in 2024 at the Sde Teiman military prison.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed approval of the military’s decision, whereas human rights organizations have voiced strong criticism. Sari Bashi, executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, condemned the decision, stating, “Israel’s military advocate general just gave his soldiers license to rape — so long as the victim is Palestinian.” Bashi argued that this dismissal reflects a pattern of overlooking abuse against detainees, an issue she claims has escalated since October 2023.
The soldiers were accused of assaulting a Palestinian prisoner by dragging him on the floor, stepping on him, and sexually assaulting him using a taser. The detainee reportedly suffered from fractured ribs and a serious rectal injury that required surgical intervention before being returned to the detention facility.
Public attention intensified when a video of the alleged abuse surfaced in August 2024. The footage depicted masked soldiers forcibly removing a detainee from a fenced area, leading him to a separate section shielded from view. Military legal officials justified dismissing the charges by stating the video did not conclusively depict abuse severe enough for a criminal conviction and criticized the improper media leak of the footage.
The military also cited the detainee’s release back to Gaza, which they claimed created uncertainty about his availability to testify in a potential trial. In November 2025, Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted to authorizing the video’s release, aiming to highlight the seriousness of the abuse and advocate for a military investigation. Her admission led to her resignation amidst political backlash, and she was later found without her phone on a Tel Aviv beach. The phone, thought to contain evidence, was retrieved from the sea.
The Associated Press has previously investigated reports of inhumane conditions and abuse at Sde Teiman, a facility established post-October 2023 to detain Palestinians captured in the conflict with Hamas. Testimonies from former detainees and employees have painted a grim picture of the prison, prompting Israeli human rights groups to seek its closure through the nation’s top court.
There have been longstanding accusations against Israel of inadequately addressing allegations of military misconduct against Palestinians, a concern that has grown during the ongoing Gaza conflict. Israel maintains that its military operations adhere to legal standards and that it investigates any claims of misconduct thoroughly.
