"Israel" indicts five soldiers for severe abuse of Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman

The "Israeli" military prosecutor has indicted five reservists for the brutal abuse of a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman military detention facility.

The charges allege that the soldiers inflicted severe injuries on the detainee, including cracked ribs, a punctured lung, and a torn rectum, according to a military statement released on Wednesday.

The incident, which occurred on July 5, 2024, involved a detainee captured from Gaza. The indictment details how the reservists attacked the blindfolded and shackled detainee during a search, subjecting him to extreme violence.

Prosecutors state that the assault included stabbing the detainee with a sharp object, causing internal injuries.

Authorities stated that the evidence against the accused includes medical reports and security camera footage. The case sparked public outrage last year, with civilian protesters storming Sde Teiman and another military detention site as authorities investigated.

While "Israeli" officials condemned the incident and launched an investigation, human rights organizations argue that such abuse is widespread. They cite the case as part of a broader pattern of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in "Israeli" custody.

Earlier this month, an "Israeli" military court sentenced another soldier to seven months in prison for the prolonged abuse of Palestinian detainees at Sde Teiman. Reports of mistreatment in "Israeli" prisons have added to growing international scrutiny of "Israel’s" conduct, particularly amid the ongoing aggression in Gaza.

Human rights groups have long documented similar abuses in other facilities, including Naqab and Ofer Prisons. Amnesty International reported last year that 27 former detainees consistently described being tortured during their detention.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor also published a report in June detailing the "Israeli" army’s use of police dogs to attack Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The organization further stated that dogs were used to intimidate, beat, and sexually assault prisoners in "Israeli" detention centers.

Additionally, in July last year, ten "Israeli" reservists working as guards at Sde Teiman were arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee, resulting in severe injuries.