Soldiers indicted on abuse charges
3 soldiers accused of beating teenage Palestinian detainees under their custody. One soldier allegedly pressed blow heater to youth's face. Female soldiers who bore witness to abuse chose to testify against defendants despite repeated attempts to pressure them
Three combat soldiers from the Haruv Battalion were indicted on Monday on charges of aggravated abuse, obstruction of justice and conduct unbecoming following an investigation into allegations that the troops beat and mistreated 16-year-old Palestinian detainees.
According to the indictment filed to the Jaffa Military Court the three soldiers, all holding the rank of 1st Sgt, were instructed to watch over the blindfolded and cuffed detainees at the battalion's command outpost near Shavei Shomron in the West Bank. At some point two of the soldiers slapped and beat the youths on their shoulder while the third soldier stood to the side and laughed.
Two of the soldiers then hit the detainees' heads with great force, while yelling at them to shut up.
Afterwards one of the soldiers brought a blow heater in close proximity to the face of one of the Palestinians and told them that "now he would be warm." The soldier also beat one of the youths, cursed him and told him to stop mumbling in Arabic.
At one point two female soldiers entered the room and one of the incited soldiers introduced the detainees to them. He then suddenly grabbed one of them by the hair and told him not to look. The soldier also ordered the youths to state their names. During the incident the soldiers also whipped the youths with plastic hand restraints.
One of the female soldiers demanded the abuse stop at once but one of the soldiers continued to hold the blow heater to the Palestinian's face and taunted him.
Realizing that word of their behavior may reach their commanders, they spoke with the female soldier and instructed her to bring her version of the events into line with theirs. In the indictment the soldiers are said to have told her to "distort the truth."
When the Military Police investigation into the incident called for the female soldiers to give testimony, the accused again turned to one of them and pleased with her to stand by them. They further told her that her friend was a "left-winger" and that this is why she became hysterical.
It should be noted that one of the female soldiers initially gave false testimony regarding the events that
had transpired but recanted the following day.
IDF prosecutors have requested to extend the arrest of all the defendants for the duration of the proceedings. The Military Court ruled the three would remain in custody for seven additional days, the court would then deliberate the request once more.
