Yair Lapid claims "Israel does not behave that way" about rape video
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- Leaked video shows Palestinian detainee being sexually abused at Sde Teiman, sparking outrage and ongoing investigations.
- Experts and human rights groups say abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israel is systemic, including torture, sexual violence, and denial of medical care.
'Israeli' opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to a leaked video showing a Palestinian detainee being sexually abused by soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention center, insisting that “Israel does not behave that way.”
Speaking to Israeli Occupation’s public broadcaster, Lapid called the leak a “serious matter that needs to be addressed,” adding: “We are a state of law and that is the difference between us and our enemies.”
Despite Lapid’s claims, dozens of rights groups and experts say that sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees in 'Israel' is systemic and ongoing.
Protests for "the right to rape prisoners"
In 2024, following the gang rape of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility, far-right protesters, politicians, and media figures in 'Israel' rallied in defense of the accused soldiers, framing them as heroes.
Demonstrators violently stormed military facilities, attended court hearings, and called for the release of the reservists, with some even claiming that sexual abuse was permissible in the name of state security.
Critics have labeled these gatherings as support for “the right to rape prisoners”, sparking widespread outrage and highlighting deep divisions in 'Israeli' society.
Read more: Sde Teiman scandal deepens: 'Israeli' soldiers claim leaked rape video blocks fair trial
The leaked footage and investigation
The video, leaked to Channel 12, shows a blindfolded, handcuffed Palestinian detainee being raped for about 15 minutes by a unit of 'Israeli' reservists. Five reservists at Sde Teiman have already been indicted for severe abuse, which left the detainee with broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a torn rectum.
The 'Israeli' Military Advocate General’s (MAG) office is investigating the leak itself - not the perpetrators - raising concerns that the focus is on punishing whistleblowers rather than addressing the broader human rights violations. Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, 'Israel’s' chief military prosecutor, has taken leave amid the scandal.
Experts warn that media focus on the leak risks distracting from systemic issues in detention centers, where Palestinians report starvation, torture, denial of medical care, and suspicious deaths. Former detainees describe Sde Teiman as a “sadistic torture camp,” where political prisoners enter alive and often leave in bags.
Background: Systemic abuse in 'Israeli' detention facilities
A recent webinar hosted by the Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) highlighted widespread abuse of Palestinian detainees. Experts, including Dr. Filiz Değer and Dr. Mark Perlmutter, documented torture, sexual violence, medical neglect, and mutilation of bodies. Key points included:
- Thousands of detainees: Approximately 11,056 Palestinians remain detained, including 3,500 under administrative detention without trial.
- Widespread destruction: Gaza hospitals and forensic labs are overwhelmed, with bodies returned bearing gunshot wounds, blindfolds, and signs of trauma.
- Targeted abuse of medical personnel: Doctors and nurses were reportedly abducted, beaten, tortured, and in some cases raped. One survivor recounted being sexually assaulted with a zucchini soaked in pork blood, along with threats against his family.
- Organizational challenges: Limited DNA testing, frozen bodies, and destroyed labs hinder accountability.
Human rights experts argued that 'Israel’s' actions meet the legal definition of crimes against humanity, with rape increasingly used as a tool of systematic abuse.
Calls for accountability
The webinar concluded with urgent calls for international intervention, forensic support, and transparency. Experts stressed that while the leaked video has generated attention, it is only the tip of a much larger pattern of abuse that continues in detention centers across 'Israel'.
While 'Israeli' officials focus on the leak itself, human rights groups say the ongoing mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, including sexual abuse, torture, and unlawful detention, remains largely unaddressed.
