Arabic-speaking troops jailed by IDF for video of them joking about deadly Jenin raid
Military condemns the soldiers’ comments, which included ‘God supports Palestine’ and ‘Israel can go to hell,’ gives four of them 30 days in prison and a fifth 21
The military on Wednesday announced that five Arabic-speaking Israeli soldiers who filmed themselves joking about supporting Jenin and Palestinians in the wake of an IDF raid there, have been sentenced to up to a month in jail.
The Israel Defense Forces said four of the soldiers were sentenced to 30 days in the brig, while a fifth soldier received 21 days.
“The IDF condemns the comments made in the video,” the army said.
The video, which one of the soldiers posted to social media, shows a group of four men in IDF uniform laughing and speaking in Arabic, saying: “God supports Jenin,” “God supports Palestine” and “Israel can go to hell.”
The soldiers serve in the Logistics Corp and filmed the video while on a military base in the south.
After the video sparked outrage on Tuesday, the military’s spokesperson said the “soldiers’ behavior contravenes IDF values” and vowed they would be punished.
A lawyer for the soldiers told Army Radio that the video had been heavily edited.
“In most of the conversation the suspects came to the defense of the IDF soldiers. It is appropriate that the treatment be only disciplinary and not criminal,” the lawyer said.
חיילים תועדו מברכים את ג'נין ומקללים את ישראל, דובר צה"ל: "יטופלו משמעתית" @amirbohbot pic.twitter.com/M9azh1CJCr
— וואלה! (@WallaNews) June 20, 2023
The video was filmed after heavy clashes broke out Monday between gunmen and Israeli troops carrying out an arrest raid in Jenin. An Israeli helicopter gunship carried out rare strikes, the first in the West Bank in some two decades, in order for eight wounded soldiers to be evacuated from the battle zone after a vehicle was hit by an explosive device, the military and local officials said. Seven Palestinians were killed, and dozens injured.
Arab citizens of Israel are exempt from mandatory IDF service, though they may choose to enlist, while Druze Israelis are required to serve.
IDF troops have at times filmed or photographed themselves carrying out pranks, joking around or otherwise violating military code in jest, with punishments usually being dished out only when such footage leaks to the general public.
Last month, two IDF soldiers who filmed themselves carrying out target practice while completely nude were each sentenced to 21 days in jail.
