Khaberni - A rebuke of an officer, cancellation of another's promotion, and five days of military imprisonment for a soldier who tied a Palestinian to a bed, and the same for another soldier who took his picture.
This concluded part of the investigation conducted by the Israeli military into an incident that occurred in northern Gaza Strip last June, as revealed by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
The incident began when a Palestinian approached an Israeli military site on foot before being stopped by soldiers from the "Netzah Yehuda" battalion and taken to a military shelter.
There, the man was tied to a bed using a rope and bound to a pole, while his eyes were covered with a cloth and his hands were bound. The incident did not stop there, as a picture was taken of him, which later spread widely.
After the investigation, the Israeli military concluded that the conduct of its elements "did not align with the values of the army," and took disciplinary actions against five of the officers and soldiers involved in the incident.
According to the Broadcasting Corporation, the promotion of the company commander was canceled, while his deputy received a rebuke. The soldier who took the picture was sentenced to five days of military imprisonment, which was the same punishment received by the soldier who tied the Palestinian to the bed, including being barred from combat duties.
Another soldier who was present during the incident was sentenced to remain inside the base for two weeks. Meanwhile, proceedings are still ongoing against two other soldiers who do not belong to the "Netzah Yehuda" battalion.
Military Investigation Narrative
The military investigation provided an explanation for the soldiers' behavior, stating that the Palestinian was acting "agitated" after being arrested, which raised concerns that he might harm himself.
However, the same investigation concluded that tying him to the bed in this manner, as well as photographing him and publishing his picture, was against the instructions.
The lenient disciplinary penalties resulting from the investigation into this torture case highlight the problem of accountability within the Israeli military, and the prevalence of impunity when it comes to serious violations against Palestinians, according to human rights activists.
