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Apr 16, 2026

Israeli Military Reinstates Soldiers Accused of Sexual Assault on Palestinian Detainee Amid Rights Outcry

AI Summary
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has ordered five soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian inmate at Sde Teiman detention camp to return to reserve duty after all charges were dropped, despite an ongoing internal investigation. The move has drawn sharp criticism from human‑rights groups, which label it as further impunity for abuses against Palestinians.

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir authorized five soldiers from the Force 100 unit to resume reserve service after the top military prosecutor dismissed all charges linked to an alleged sexual assault on a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention camp.

The decision comes while an internal military inquiry into the soldiers’ conduct remains open; Israeli Army Radio reports that some of the reservists have already been redeployed to active combat roles.

In a statement cited by Haaretz, the army emphasized that “the investigation does not prevent them from continuing to serve … the command‑level investigation will be completed as soon as possible.”

Charges were withdrawn last month by Israel’s senior military lawyer, ending a case that had become one of the most contentious in recent Israeli history.

The original indictment alleged that the soldiers stabbed the detainee with a sharp object near his rectum, causing cracked ribs, a punctured lung and an internal tear. Prison doctor Yoel Donchin told reporters he was initially shocked by the severity of the injuries, assuming they were inflicted by a rival armed group.

Military Advocate General Itay Offir explained that the indictments were scrapped due to “complexities in the evidentiary structure” and “difficulties” arising after the detainee’s release to the Gaza Strip.

Human‑rights organisations, led by Amnesty International, condemned the reinstatement as “yet another unconscionable chapter” in a legal system they say routinely grants impunity for grave crimes against Palestinians. The group noted that only one Israeli soldier has ever been sentenced for torturing a Palestinian detainee.

Broader reports, including a February study by the Committee to Protect Journalists, document widespread abuse—ranging from beatings and starvation to sexual assault—experienced by Palestinians held in Israeli custody.