Humiliated. Debabseh

Palestinian woman featured in soldier's video to sue

Ekhsan Debabseh says she filed a complaint with Israel human rights group against soldier seen dancing around her as she stands handcuffed, blindfolded; adds she plans to seek damages

Ali Waked|Published: 10.06.10 , 17:49

The Palestinian women depicted in a YouTube video posted by an IDF solider plans to sue him for damages, Ynet learned Wednesday.

The video, which has caused a media storm in the Arab world and Israel alike, featured he soldier featured dancing around a handcuffed and blindfolded female prisoner, while his comrades encourage him.

"I could feel that they were making fun of me despite being blindfolded. They humiliated me," 25-year-old Ekhsan Debabseh told Ynet.

Debabseh was detained on December 2007, and after her interrogation at the Gush Etzion detention center, she was taken out into the hallway, handcuffed and blindfolded.

"I heard music and soldiers laughing. I felt like I was being photographed and tried, with mu hand tied, to life the blindfold and I caught a glimpse of them. Once of the soldiers came over, smacked me over the head and tied the blindfold tighter, so I won't be able to lift it."

She said she begged the soldiers to stop but they ignored her. "It was extremely humiliating. I felt helpless."

Debabseh added that since her release from prison, where she served a 22-month sentence after being found of having an affiliation with Islamic Jihad, and until the clip hit the televised airwaves, she was unaware of it being on YouTube. The video has received over 500,000 hits so far.

"I don't have internet access and I had no idea it existed until it was on al-Jazeera yesterday. That's when I saw it for the first time. I was shocked and even more humiliated. I couldn’t sleep all night. The pictures kept flashing in my head."

Debabseh said she filed a complaint against the soldier dancing around her with the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), and added she intended to seek damages.

"I don't know if justice will be served but this soldier has to be punished for what he dud to me."

The IDF Spokesman's Unit condemned the video, saying a Military Police investigation has been launched.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced the act, saying such conduct and videos "shame the IDF and the State of Israel and cause us grave international damage.

"The IDF is one of the most ethical militaries in the world and it treats detainees with respect. Debasing prisoners is not something Israel and the Jewish people do."