Soldier charged with abusing handcuffed detainee
Photo: Shutterstock
Discharged soldier charged with abusing detainee during service
Six months ago, a soldier allegedly struck a handcuffed and blindfolded detained Palestinian on base; now discharged, he is being indicted for abuse and conduct unbecoming an IDF soldier.
The Military Advocate General decided in recent weeks to file an indictment against a now-discharged combat soldier from the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Unit on the charge of abusing a handcuffed Palestinian in July 2016.
According to the indictment, IDF forces then detained the Palestinian Omar Hisham Younis Qafishah and brought him into temporary custody at the Mul Nevo outpost in the Jericho District. At the time, soldiers from the Home Front Command's Shahar Battalion were stationed at the base.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
One of those soldiers escorted the handcuffed and blindfolded detainee at night for tests in the clinic. According to the charges, the accused noticed him and slapped him in the face.
The soldier admitted as much in the investigation into the incident, and he thereafter continued to serve in that battalion until his scheduled discharge date. Following the Military Police's investigation into the incident, those responsible in the unit refrained from bringing the soldier before a disciplinary court martial.
MAG prosecutor Lt. Ran Ozer decided to indict the soldier with the serious charge of abuse and conduct unbecoming an IDF soldier.
Friends of the accused have claimed that the charge of abuse is disproportional to his actions. They added that this is one incident that does not accurately represent the accused's clean past and his full contribution as a combat soldier.
