“Everything is legitimate,” “Israeli” lawmaker defends sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners

A group of right-wing “Israeli” protesters forcibly entered a military base in Beit Lid on Monday, central “Israel’, in response to the arrest of soldiers implicated in a disturbing case of alleged gang-rape of a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman Prison.

The protestors, some of whom were reportedly masked and dressed in military uniforms, successfully shut down the military police base where the accused soldiers were being held for questioning. 

Earlier reports from “Israeli” media, including Yedioth Ahronoth, detailed the severe nature of the alleged abuse. 

The detainee, who is from the Gaza Strip, was reportedly taken to a hospital with serious injuries, including trauma to an intimate body part, resulting in severe impairment of mobility.

As of now, 10 soldiers have been detained as part of the investigation.

Since October 7, the “Israeli” military detained thousands of Palestinians. Reports from various human rights organizations and media outlets have highlighted numerous instances of severe mistreatment and torture of detainees, many of whom were released in poor health.

“Israeli” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confirmed that conditions within “Israeli” prisons have “indeed worsened,” adding, "I am proud of that.

- Inside the Knesset - 

Hanoch Milwidsky, an “Israeli” lawmaker from the Likud party, defended the extreme measures against Palestinian prisoners, including sexual violence, declaring that "everything is legitimate" in the context of dealing with certain detainees.

The remarks were made during a legislative meeting when Ahmad Tibi, a Palestinian lawmaker, questioned the legitimacy of torturous acts against prisoners, specifically asking, "To insert a stick in a person's rectum, is that legitimate?" 

Milwidsky's response was a vehement, "Yes! If he is a Nukhba everything is legitimate to do him.”

The Public Committee Against Torture in “Israel” has strongly condemned the incident.

The committee said, “Instead of absolute condemnation, some Israeli far-right leaders have rallied to support the suspects of abuse, which is emblematic of the root causes that enable such abuse to happen in the first place.”