Sde Teiman Detention Center Trial Begins in Israeli Supreme Court
Following applications from some human rights organizations, the case regarding the closure of the Sde Teiman detention center, which has frequently been in the news due to the torture of detained Palestinians, has begun to be heard at the Israeli Supreme Court. During the hearing in the courtroom, many far-right Israelis protested against the closure of Sde Teiman.
The prosecutors’ action disrupted the hearing for about 30 minutes. The hearing resumed after the far-right extremists were removed from the courtroom. Deputy Chief Justice Uzi Vogelman reacted to the prosecutors’ action, stressing that while they respected the right to protest, it was unacceptable for this to be done in order to disrupt a hearing.
Sde Teiman Detention Center and Allegations of Torture
The Sde Teiman detention center in southern Israel is often cited as a place where Gazans are held for torture. According to a report in the New York Times, Gazans detained at Sde Teiman are forced to sit on the ground in an open area, blindfolded and handcuffed, for up to 18 hours a day. The report states that these details are held there for up to 3 months and that many are subjected to inhumane treatment and torture during interrogation processes.
Some Gazans who were held there and later released have described in detail the torture they were subjected to in Sde Teiman, a situation that has been met with great concern by international human rights organizations.
Sexual Torture Accusations and Soldiers’ Detention
The incidents erupted when Israeli military police came to Sde Teiman on July 29 and wanted to detail 10 Israeli soldiers after they were accused of sexually torturing a Palestinian. The soldiers who were going to be detained resisted, which led to serious tension. Some Israeli ministers, especially the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have given messages of support to the soldiers who are sexually torturing them.
Immediately following these messages of support, a large number of far-right Israelis, including members of parliament, raided Sde Teiman. Similar groups also forcibly entered the Beit Lid base, where the military court was located, where the detained soldiers were taken in the evening. The raids of two military bases in one day by far-right members sparked intense debate in Israel and had a great impact on the public.
Status of Detained Soldiers
Five of the 10 soldiers detained have been released by an Israeli court. Investigations into the other soldiers are ongoing. The court extended the detention of five soldiers accused of sexual torture until Sunday, August 11.
