Five IDF soldiers arrested for beating Palestinians
The five, who serve in the ultra-Orthodox Netzach Yehuda Battalion, will be brought to Military Court today to face charges.
The military police arrested an Israeli platoon commander and four combat soldiers on Wednesday for allegedly beating two Palestinians who they had detained, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said.
The five, who serve in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, will be brought to a military court today to face charges
During a military court hearing, the court extended the detention for the officer until Sunday and for the combat soldiers until Tuesday.
While the military did not provide a date when the beating took place, the two Palestinians who had been arrested – and were then beaten – were detained in the Ramallah area as part of the army’s efforts to locate As’am Barghouti, who killed two soldiers from the Netazah Yehuda battalion outside the West Bank outpost of Givat Assaf.
The military is investigating whether the soldiers had been motivated by revenge for their comrades killed in the deadly attack.
According to a report by Haaretz, one of the Palestinians was badly beaten and needed urgent medical care. He could not be interrogated.
The Netzah Yehuda battalion, which was established 20 years ago, is made up of religious soldiers ranging from ultra-Orthodox Israelis to new immigrants to those who identify with the settler movement.
In the past couple of years, the battalion – which operates mainly in the West Bank – has been involved in a number of violent incidents where soldiers have been accused of severe abuse including violent beatings and even electrocuting Palestinians who are in their custody.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Five-IDF-soldiers-arrested-for-allegedly-beating-two-Palestinians-576947