On Monday, right-wing Israeli protesters broke into two military compounds after investigators arrived to question soldiers about suspected abuse at the Sde Teiman detention center, which holds Palestinians captured during the Gaza war.
The unrest began when military police arrived at the Sde Teiman military detention center in southern Israel to question around 10 reserve soldiers suspected of abusing a prisoner from Hamas. A crowd of civilian protesters, including far-right members of parliament, gathered outside, condemning the investigation.
Footage showed some protesters forcing open a gate and entering the base, with a cabinet minister from an ultranationalist party among them. As night fell, another crowd gathered at the Beit Lid military compound in northern Israel, where some broke into a military court before being pushed out by police and soldiers.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich defended the soldiers under investigation, calling them heroes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant denounced the break-ins and called for calm, emphasizing that the law applies to everyone.
The military investigation, ordered by the advocate general, follows allegations of substantial abuse of a detainee. Rights groups, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, have reported serious abuse at the Sde Teiman camp, which is set to be phased out.
Military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi defended the investigation, stating that such actions are necessary to protect soldiers and uphold IDF values. Centrist opposition party Yesh Atid called for the dismissal of the deputy speaker of parliament, who allegedly participated in the protest.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the protesters, stating that all red lines were crossed. The ongoing reports of detainee mistreatment have added to international pressure on Israel over its conduct of the Gaza war, now approaching its 11th month. In May, the US State Department announced it was looking into allegations of Israeli abuse of Palestinian detainees.
