Freed Palestinian Prisoners Describe Torture and Degrading Treatment in Israeli Jails
Democracy NowJun 21
Right-Wing Israelis Storm Military Bases After Alleged Prisoner Abuse
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Above: Israeli soldiers stand near Nahal Oz base on July 17, 2024 in Natal Oz, Israel. Image copyright: Amir Levy/Stringer/Getty Images Europe via Getty Images
The Facts
Right-wing activists and politicians stormed the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel on Monday, following the arrest of nine reservists serving there over allegations of "serious" prisoner abuse at the facility.
Hours later, protesters gathered outside and eventually broke into the Beit Lid base in central Israel, where the suspects were being questioned. The situation has already been brought under control in both bases.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Though the feelings of the protesters are certainly understandable given the horrors Hamas terrorists unleashed on Israel during its Oct. 7 attack, this anarchy will only weaken Israel domestically and internationally. Attacks on the military are simply unacceptable when Israel is facing so many existential threats, and the allegations of abuse must be taken seriously if Israel is to maintain its moral high ground.
Pro-Palestine narrative
The reports of torture and rape at Sde Teiman, among other Israeli detention facilities, are overwhelming. Though Israel may treat these brutal acts as individual incidents, they are part of a wider systematic campaign to torment the Palestinian people. Israeli ministers in the ruling coalition openly encourage the abuse of prisoners, yet the world does nothing.
