Israeli Officials Demand Probe Into Leak of Sde Teiman Abuse Video

The video, which surfaced on Israeli media this week, depicts soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention center attempting to conceal their actions behind shields while allegedly assaulting a prisoner. The victim was subsequently hospitalized with severe injuries, including a ruptured bowel and broken ribs. Nine members of Force 100, the unit responsible for guarding the facility, were arrested in connection with the incident, sparking riots by far-right activists and government officials at two military bases.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, political support for the accused remains high among some segments of the Israeli government. Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have publicly characterized the soldiers as heroes. The discourse has reached a point where some media figures, such as Israel Today’s Yehuda Schlesinger, have openly advocated for the institutionalization of prisoner abuse as a deterrent. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing a petition to shutter Sde Teiman, a facility frequently compared to Guantánamo Bay due to persistent reports of torture, including electrocution and starvation. While the U.S. State Department has called for zero tolerance regarding sexual abuse in custody, critics point to the IDF's historical record, noting that fewer than 1% of abuse allegations against soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza resulted in indictments over the last five years.