IDF soldiers indicted for beating Palestinian terror suspects

Four combat soldiers from the IDF’s ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion were indicted at the Jaffa Military Court on Thursday for abuse under aggravated circumstances, after allegedly beating several Palestinian detainees suspected of terrorism. A fifth soldier is set to be indicted on Sunday, the Ynet news site reported.

According to the indictments, the soldiers are suspected of kicking and slapping detainees, all of whom were arrested for involvement in terrorist activities during raids on villages near the Palestinian West Bank city of Jenin.

A spokesperson for the Honenu organization, which is providing legal aid to the soldiers, called the case “way overblown,” and accused the military prosecution of “abusing” the suspects.

“The only abuse here is of the IDF fighters,” the organization said, according to the Maariv website. “Those who are responsible for this abuse are the officials at the Military Prosecutor’s Office, and the Military Police, who are apparently influenced by extreme left-wing organizations.”

Two more soldiers who were initially arrested in connection with the incident were released after investigators determined they had not taken part in the suspected beatings.