Nine Israeli soldiers were due to appear before a military court on Tuesday for an initial hearing over allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee at a facility where Israel has held prisoners from Gaza during the ongoing war. The incident has heightened tensions between military command and hard-line nationalists within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, who advocate for stricter measures in Israel's conduct of the 10-month-old conflict in Gaza. The soldiers' detention on Monday sparked angry protests by supporters, including members of parliament and two government ministers. Several hundred protesters broke into the facility in southern Israel, known as Sde Teiman, and later into the military base where the soldiers were being held, clashing with troops before being expelled. Defense lawyer Nati Rom, representing three of the soldiers, did not elaborate on the nature of the alleged sexual abuse, insisting they were innocent. The military has not provided specific details, stating only that it is investigating allegations of "substantial abuse." An investigation by The Associated Press and reports by rights groups have highlighted poor conditions and abuses at Sde Teiman, where most of the thousands detained in Gaza during the war have been held. A UNRWA report in April documented instances of detainees being forced to strip naked, subjected to beatings, and in some cases, severe abuse such as being forced to sit on electrical probes. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the protesters' break-ins at military sites and called for an investigation into whether hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir delayed the police response to the riots. Ben-Gvir denied these allegations, calling the soldiers' detention "shameful" and referring to them as "our best heroes." The soldiers' court hearing at the Beit Lid base in central Israel is expected to decide whether to extend their detention, with potential new protests looming. Military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi supported the investigation, emphasizing its importance in maintaining military values and legal accountability. The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel welcomed the investigation but pointed to systemic abuse at the facility, beyond just one case. In Gaza, emergency workers recovered the bodies of 22 Palestinians in Khan Younis after Israeli troops withdrew from the area. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 39,363 Palestinians killed and more than 90,900 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. — Agencies
