Female IDF sergeant indicted for abusing two soldiers as part of ‘hazing ritual’

A female sergeant in the IDF Artillery Corps was recently indicted for abusing two corporals in her unit as part of a so-called hazing ritual.

Details of the indictment were first reported by the Ynet news site this evening and subsequently confirmed by the military.

According to the indictment, the alleged acts of abuse began in November when the two younger female soldiers completed their training and joined the artillery battalion in which the sergeant served.

The sergeant is accused of abusing the two corporals as a form of “punishment” for minor infractions, summoning them at night, whipping them with her dog tag, striking them with her rifle, and forcing them to sing, despite their pleas for the actions to stop.

The alleged assault lasted about 15 minutes, causing the junior soldiers bruising and pain, and ended with the sergeant telling them to continue the “tradition” with future recruits, according to Ynet.

In response to a query, the IDF says that a military court accepted the prosecution’s request to extend the remand of the sergeant until February 26.

“With the consent of the parties, a mediation process in the case is expected to take place,” the army says.

The IDF says that the battalion commander convened all of the battalion’s soldiers following the incident for a discussion on the matter, “during which the boundaries of what is permitted and prohibited were clarified, and the IDF’s values and the norms expected of all service members were reinforced.”

“The IDF views acts of abuse of any kind gravely, as they are contrary to the law and violate IDF values, and will act to fully prosecute any soldier or commander found to be involved in them,” the military adds.

There have been incidents of so-called hazing in the IDF in the past, and they have generally taken place in infantry and commando units.