In an unprecedented escalation of civil unrest, chaos erupted across Israel last night as a mob of far-right activists, inflamed by anger and defiance, forcefully broke into two military compounds. This audacious act followed the arrest of nine Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers accused of abusing a Palestinian detainee, setting off a chain of events that shook the nation.
The Incidents Unfold
The turmoil began with a shocking invasion of the Sde Teiman detention facility in southern Israel. Here, Palestinian prisoners, including members of Hamas' elite Nukhba force, are held, and it was the site where the accused IDF reservists were detained. These soldiers allegedly subjected a Hamas suspect to severe sexual and physical abuse, leading to his hospitalization with serious injuries.
As news of the arrests spread, enraged protesters, including two far-right Knesset members, stormed the facility. Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi vehemently condemned their actions, labeling them as "unlawful behaviors bordering on anarchy."
Far-Right Rioters who entered the Beit Lid Military Base in Central Israel, are now attempted to break into the Base Prison, to Free the Reservist Soldiers who were Arrested earlier today at the Sde Teiman Detention Facility in the Negev Desert of Southern Israel, for theirโฆ pic.twitter.com/ZvuSVcch1J
โ OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 29, 2024
But the unrest did not stop there. Soon after, protesters advanced to the Beit Lid military compound in central Israel, 60 kilometers away, where the soldiers were believed to be taken for questioning. Clashes erupted between the protesters and security forces, escalating the tension further.
Political Turmoil and Condemnation
The involvement of far-right Knesset members, including Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu of Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot, intensified the political drama. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog's condemnations, their words failed to pacify the enraged mob.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stern rebuke of the civilian intrusion into IDF bases, emphasizing that such actions severely undermine Israeli democracy and embolden enemies during times of conflict. His warnings, however, fell on deaf ears as the protesters rallied behind the accused reservists, expressing their outrage at the arrests. Far-right politician and government minister Itamar Ben Gvir went so far as to call the arrests "shameful," while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded respect for IDF soldiers, insisting they should not be treated as criminals.
ืชืืขืื ืฉื ืขืฉืจืืช ืืคืืื ืื ืคืืจืฆืื ืืชืื ืืกืืก ืฉืื ืชืืื pic.twitter.com/uinJyr8Kzw
โ Bar Peleg (@bar_peleg) July 29, 2024
A Nation Divided
The nine reservists now face a military court hearing, with the Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) petitioning the High Court of Justice for the closure of Sde Teiman due to reported abuses. These reports include the use of physical restraints, beatings, torture, neglect, and arbitrary punishments. In response to these allegations, the state announced plans to phase out the use of the facility.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials have demanded an international investigation into the recent abuse incident. Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian politician, declared that Palestinians have no faith in Israeli military courts and condemned the actions as evidence of rising fundamentalist Zionist fascism.
ืืืจื ืืคืจืืฆื ืืฉืื ืชืืื: ืขืฉืจืืช ืืคืืื ืื ืืืกืืื ืืขืช ืืช ืืกืืก ืืืฉืืจื ืืฆืืืืช ืืืืช ืืื, ืฉื ื ืืงืจืื ืืืฉืืืื@Doron_Kadosh pic.twitter.com/XPsaQpjmtH
โ ืืืฆ (@GLZRadio) July 29, 2024
Escalation of Protests
The protests began following the arrest of IDF reservists by Military Police officers investigating the alleged abuse. The IDF confirmed that an investigation was initiated after suspicions of serious detainee abuse. The accused soldiers reportedly resisted arrest, with confrontations involving tear gas and defiant statements like, โWe will unite against the IDF arresting our fellow soldiers.โ
In a dramatic escalation, the "Generation Victory" reservist movement announced that hundreds of soldiers were heading to Sde Teiman to block the base's entrance and "put an end to this disgrace." This movement further deepened the divide within Israeli society, raising questions about the rule of law and the future of civil-military relations in the country.
A Call for Order
Despite the chaos, Israeli military leadership remained firm. Military chief Herzi Halevi reiterated his support for the Military Police, asserting that their investigation upholds IDF values. Defense Minister Gallant reaffirmed the IDF's commitment to lawful conduct and the dignity of its soldiers, while acknowledging the necessity of thorough investigations.
MK @tzvisuccot and his rabble broken into Sde Teman prison to protect soldiers arrested for the rape of a Palestinian prisoner.
โ Etan Nechin (@Etanetan23) July 29, 2024
After the judicial, media, and political institutions, the military has also fallen. Israel is not a state of law.
pic.twitter.com/iolO6Q2H62
Earlier this year, an investigation by CNN revealed widespread abuse at the Sde Teiman facility, prompting the IDF to declare its commitment to proper conduct towards detainees and accountability for any misconduct.
As Israel grapples with this internal turmoil, the events of last night highlight the volatile intersection of military discipline, political extremism, and civil unrest, leaving the nation to navigate the complex path towards justice and order.
