Reservist Soldier Verdict For Abuse Against Prisoners at 'Sde Teiman'

Following the admission of a reservist soldier who served as a security guard at the "Sde Teiman" detention facility to having severely abused Palestinian detainees, the military court accepted a plea bargain today (Thursday), and convicted the soldier in the charges against him.
The criminal investigation, leading to the indictment, has begun following a report from an officer from the defendant’s unit.
The defendant was convicted of several incidents in which he struck detainees with his fists and his weapon while they were bound and blindfolded. These acts were carried out in the presence of other soldiers, some of whom called on him to stop, and were even recorded on the defendant’s mobile phone. The military court determined that additional masked soldiers participated in the abuse, though their identities remain unknown.
The military court upheld the plea bargain between the military prosecution and the defendant, and sentenced him to seven months of actual imprisonment, along with a suspended sentence and demotion to the rank of private.
The court found the defendant’s actions to be severe and aggravated by the circumstances—exploiting his position of authority over bound and blindfolded detainees over a period exceeding three months. The court emphasized that IDF soldiers are obligated to use the power entrusted in them in accordance with IDF values and regulations at all times, especially during wartime. The ruling stated that the abuse of detainees "disgraces the soldiers, tarnishes their unit, damages the IDF’s combat ethos, and ultimately affects the military’s character as an institution and that of its fighters."
In balancing these considerations against the defendant’s personal circumstances, his acceptance of responsibility during the mediation process, and the significant period of incarceration he is still required to serve after already being released from detention, the court decided to accept the plea bargain.
This case highlights the IDF's accountability mechanisms within military justice and the broader rule of law. The prosecution and sentencing of a soldier for detainee abuse underscore the military’s commitment to enforcing legal standards during active conflict.