Sde Teiman scandal widens Israeli rift, instigates IOF bases break-ins
4 Min Read
Israeli Military Police arresting nine Israeli troops in Sde Teiman for raping a Palestinian detainee led to a series of break-ins into Israeli bases by far-right settlers.
-
Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman military base as the Israeli Military Police clash with soldiers stationed in the base over a rape case, in occupied Palestine, on July 29, 2024. (AP)
A scandal at the Sde Teiman concentration camp has led to infighting among Israeli occupation forces' units and far-right settlers, following reports of "serious abuse" of Palestinian detainees.
According to Israeli media reports, Israeli troops deployed in the camp to guard Palestinian detainees have been torturing them for their own amusement.
A specific case saw Israeli occupation forces rape a Palestinian detainee, by assaulting him with a rod, causing him severe injuries that necessitated his transfer to a hospital.
Israeli Military Police raided the concentration camp, which has also been a military base for occupation forces in the occupied al-Naqab desert, arresting nine troops serving at the site for questioning.
As a result of the raid, a fight broke out between members of the Military Police and Israeli soldiers manning the site.
According to Israeli media outlets, the investigation into the rape case was opened by orders of the Military Advocate, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.
⚡️🇮🇱BREAKING:
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 29, 2024
Several Palestinian hostages in Sde Teiman prison were hospitalized with severe injuries due to torture and r*pe, including serious injuries in their anus caused by soldiers inserting broomsticks and foreign objects, leading to muscle and intestinal tears.
As a… pic.twitter.com/QzDdEfFiVg
At around 3:00 pm (local time), the Israeli military command said it arrested nine soldiers for questioning with a tenth suspect yet to be detained. It also claimed that the incident in the base had ended.
Read more: Harrowing tales of torture inside 'Israel's' Sde Teiman prison: NYT
Far-right Israelis angered by questioning of troops
However, a few minutes later, news of far-right settlers and lawmakers storming the base broke out.
The far-right Israelis breached the Sde Teiman base, protesting the arrest of the soldiers.
🚨Israeli protesters & parliament members storm the "Sde Teiman Concentration Camp"
— Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) July 29, 2024
NOT to break free Gazan civilians systematically tortured for months
But to release 10 IDF soldiers who gang RAPED a Gazan detainee so severely until he was hospitalized with a bleeding rectum! pic.twitter.com/cZIhWeEPPW
The soldiers were reportedly transported to the Beit Lid base in central occupied Palestine, where Israeli protesters began to gather on Monday afternoon. At Sde Teiman, dozens of far-right lawmakers and settlers were able to breach the base's checkpoint, defying the orders of officers.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Member of Knesset Yitzhak Kroizer all denounced the arrest of Israeli troops, directing a message to the Military Police saying, "Keep your hands off our soldiers."
Kroizer said he would join protesters in the Beit Lid base.
Absolute Chaos now at Beit Lid Military Base in Central Israel. Soldiers and Police are being Totally Overwhelmed by Far-Right Demonstrators who have now broken into the Base and Military Court Complex. pic.twitter.com/lPY2LWB0MY
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 29, 2024
Later, Israeli media outlets reported that dozens of settlers stormed the Beit Lid base, with videos showing a group of far-right settlers entering the headquarters on Monday night.
Documentation from the military court in Beit Lid.
— Eli Afriat 🇮🇱🎗 (@EliAfriatISR) July 29, 2024
"Release the soldiers". pic.twitter.com/edBDh4UG3t
Read more: The Gaza Trials: Israeli immunity from sexual violence prosecution
IOF chief slams infiltration of Sde Teiman
Earlier on Monday, Israeli occupation forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi slammed the infiltration into Sde Teiman, saying that the incident "is extremely serious and against the law."
"Breaking into a military base and disturbing the order there is serious behavior that is not acceptable in any way," Halevi added.
"We are at war, and actions of this kind endanger the security of the country," he asserted.
Halevi announced his support to the Military Advocate General and the Military Police investigation.
"IDF troops and police officers are currently working to detain those who broke into the base in protest of nine soldiers being held for questioning over the serious abuse incident," he added.
However, Halevi's message that settlers who broke into the Sde Teiman base would be arrested did not stop dozens of others from breaking into the Beit Lid base.
Minister of Security Yoav Gallant also released a statement condemning the storming of Sde Teiman by settlers.
"Even in times of anger, the law applies to everyone, " he said.
"We must allow the authorized parties to carry out the necessary investigations while maintaining the dignity of our soldiers," he added.
Netanyahu calls for a 'calming of passions'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement calling for "an immediate calming of passions in the Sde Teiman base."
He also said he "strongly condemns" the storming of the base.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also echoed the statements of other top officials saying that "breaking into a military base by civilians, and certainly when it is done with the encouragement and involvement of elected officials, is a serious, dangerous, illegal and irresponsible act, which first and foremost harms us as a people and as a country."
Read more: Smotrich, Halevi at each other's throats in War Cabinet session
