Convicted Israeli soldiers defend torture of Palestinian detainee

Convicted Israeli soldiers have publicly justified their torture and sexual assault of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility, demanding recognition rather than condemnation for their actions. The masked soldiers organized a press conference outside the Supreme Court in West Jerusalem, where they characterized their prosecution as unjust and defended their conduct as necessary.

Public Defense of Torture

One soldier identified only as "A" stated, "Instead of appreciation, we received accusations — instead of thanks, there was silence," while boasting that the convicted personnel represented "the strength of a hundred men." The case originated in July 2024 when Israeli military personnel severely tortured a Gazan prisoner at the southern Israeli facility, causing critical injuries including internal rectal damage.

Legal and Institutional Fallout

A Tel Aviv court extended the detention of former military prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi for authorizing the release of torture footage that sparked international condemnation. Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned last Friday, claiming she permitted the video's publication to counter what she described as false propaganda against Israeli military law enforcement agencies. The tortured detainee was reportedly returned to Gaza in October.

Media Criticism and Broader Context

Haaretz journalist Yoana Gonen criticized the public defense of the soldiers' actions, describing them as emblematic of contemporary Israel as "a nation marked by shame and disgrace." Gonen's commentary highlighted the extensive documentation of human rights violations against Palestinian detainees, with over 10,000 Palestinians currently imprisoned in Israeli facilities facing systematic abuse according to human rights organizations.