IDF Soldiers Tried for Assaulting Hamas Terrorist Spark National Outrage
Five IDF reservists face a military trial for allegedly assaulting a Hamas detainee at Sde Teiman, drawing criticism from their attorneys who argue the prosecution unfairly targets soldiers while Israel negotiates terrorist releases. The case, coupled with a libel lawsuit against media for false accusations, highlights tensions between security duties and legal accountability.
A military court initiated the arraignment today of five reservist soldiers from Unit 100, accused of assaulting a detained Hamas Nukhba Force terrorist at the Sde Teiman detention facility in southern Israel. The soldiers, arrested in July 2024, were conducting a search on a high-risk detainee when the alleged incident occurred, prompting a criminal investigation.
The case has sparked controversy, with defense attorneys condemning the trial as a betrayal of soldiers who risked their lives. Attorneys Adi Keidar, Nati Rom, and Moshe Polsky, representing two of the soldiers through the Honenu legal organization, stated, “While Israel is negotiating the release of terrorists with blood on their hands, it is prosecuting the soldiers who protected them. This is a disgrace. The indictment should never have been filed. We will do everything in our power to have it dismissed.”
The soldiers, who left their families to serve, face charges of causing severe injury and assault, though earlier reports alleging sodomy were refuted. In November 2024, attorneys Menashe Yado and Nati Rom filed a NIS 1.5 million libel lawsuit against Channel 12 News and journalist Guy Peleg, claiming their report falsely accused the soldiers of heinous acts, damaging their reputations. One soldier was convicted in February 2025, receiving a seven-month sentence, while four others remain in custody awaiting trial.
The defense argues the soldiers acted under pressure to secure a dangerous detainee linked to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis. Posts on X highlight public outrage, with one user stating, “Prosecuting our heroes while freeing terrorists is a moral failure.” The trial, expected to continue for months, coincides with ceasefire talks that may release detained militants, intensifying debates over justice and national security. The defense is pushing for immediate dismissal of the charges, citing the soldiers’ duty to protect Israel.