Head of special police unit released after questioning over violence toward protesters

The chief of the Tel Aviv police’s Yasam special patrol unit, Yair Hanuna, is released after several hours of questioning by the Justice Ministry’s Police Internal Investigations Department (PIID) over allegations they used excessive force against protesters opposed to the government’s judicial overhaul.

Hanuna, and four other officers who are questioned with him, are freed with no conditions or restraints except for discussing the content of the questioning, the Walla news site reports.

Dozens of Hanuna’s fellow uniformed officers from the unit gathered outside, obstructing the flow of traffic on the Tel Aviv street, and cheered as he arrived.

Videos from demonstrations last week showed police kicking protesters who were lying on the ground, throwing burning pallets toward them, dragging activists by their hair and using violence during arrests of those allegedly blocking roads and highways, including those who were not resisting arrest.