Israel drops charges against soldiers in Palestinian detainee abuse case

"The military announced the decision this week, more than a year after footage of the assault at Sde Teiman, a desert facility holding Palestinians detained during Israel's genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, was broadcast by Israeli television, triggering international outrage."

"The military's own indictment described soldiers stabbing the detainee with a sharp object near his rectum, causing cracked ribs, a punctured lung and an internal tear. The US Department of State called the allegations horrific at the time and demanded a swift and full investigation."

"Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the military's top lawyer who had filed the indictment and authorised the footage to be leaked to Channel 12, resigned last year and was subsequently arrested on charges including fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice."

Israeli military authorities have dismissed all charges against five soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman detention facility in July 2024. The incident, which caused severe injuries including cracked ribs, a punctured lung, and internal tearing, was documented on video and broadcast by Israeli television, sparking international condemnation. The US State Department called the allegations horrific and demanded investigation. The military's top lawyer, Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who authorized the indictment and leaked the footage, subsequently resigned and faced separate charges including fraud and breach of trust. Prime Minister Netanyahu characterized the video leak as a public relations crisis rather than addressing the assault itself.

Read at www.aljazeera.com