IDF slams broadcaster for showing faces of suspects detained in Sde Teiman abuse case
Public broadcaster’s Arabic channel reveals soldiers accused of sexually abusing terror detainee; broadcast was ‘blatant violation of the military court’s gag order,’ IDF says
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Kan news network recently showed the faces of several suspects detained in the Sde Teiman abuse case on its Arabic channel, Makan, drawing harsh criticism from the Israel Defense Forces on Monday.
“The IDF views with severity the publication of the faces of those suspected of abusing a security detainee under aggravating circumstances, which constitutes a blatant violation of the military court’s gag order,” the military said in a statement.
“As soon as the incident was discovered, a comprehensive inspection was carried out and a request was made to the media outlet on behalf of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit to remove the footage,” the military added.
Five soldiers are being held over the suspected sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility, out of the 10 originally arrested, mostly during a midday raid at the facility that prompted a riot by right-wing activists in response.
According to the IDF, the soldiers were suspected of aggravated sodomy (a charge equivalent to rape), causing bodily harm under aggravated circumstances, abuse under aggravated circumstances, and conduct unbecoming of a soldier.
The investigation into the soldiers was launched after a detained terror suspect was brought from the base to a hospital with signs of serious abuse, including to his anus. He had been arrested by the IDF in the Gaza Strip several weeks ago.
Footage aired by Channel 12 last week showed soldiers at Sde Teiman taking aside a detainee, who had been lying face down on the floor, then surrounding him with riot shields while they allegedly committed the abuse.
Throughout the Israel-Hamas war, Sde Teiman has been used to hold more than 1,000 detainees from Gaza who were suspected of terrorist activity. The vast majority were suspected of taking part in Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, in which terrorists murdered some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.
