Golani troops accused of abusing bound Palestinian
Indictment says soldiers repeatedly kicked man who infiltrated Israel from Gaza; filmed abuse
Two soldiers from the Golani Brigade's 51st Battalion were charged last week with the violent abuse of a bound and blind-folded Palestinian, Ynet learned on Sunday.
Two other soldiers who have already been discharged from the IDF are being charged as civilians for their involvement in the incident and are awaiting a hearing in court.
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The attack took place in May 2012 but was revealed only recently by chance during an investigation by Military Police, which found an incriminating video on one of the soldier's cell phones.
According to the indictment, filed by the Military Advocate General's Office, the Palestinian was detained on the night before the incident took place after he infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip. The following day, the indictment read, he was beaten by four soldiers in the room where he was held at an IDF base located near the Gaza border. Two soldiers have been accused of repeatedly kicking the Palestinian man, who was bound and blindfolded, until they were asked to stop by another soldier. Another soldier guarded the door while his friend filmed the abuse. Some of the soldiers denied any involvement.
"The defendants' actions were premeditated and documented," the indictment said. The soldiers, who were detained on Monday, have been charged with aggravated abuse and aggravated assault.
Several cases involving the abuse of Palestinians by IDF soldiers have been revealed over the past few years. IDF soldier Eden Aberjil documented the "best period of her life" by taking photos of bound Palestinian detainees, and Border Guard officer Shani Sivilya abused a 17-year-old Palestinian while aiming a gun at his head.
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