US calls for probe of alleged sexual assault on detainee by IDF troops

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

ISRAELI MEDIA RELEASED SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM INSIDE ISRAELI MILITARY BASE SDE TEIMAN (SEH-DEE TAY-MAN) – ALLEGEDLY SHOWING IDF SOLDIERS SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A PALESTINIAN DETAINEE.

THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS THE REPORTS “HORRIFIC” AND SAYS THEY SHOULD BE FULLY INVESTIGATED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.

[MATTHEW MILLER]

“BUT LOOK, THERE OUGHT TO BE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE, RAPE OF ANY DETAINEE, PERIOD. THAT’S A FUNDAMENTAL – IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF OF THE UNITED STATES. AND IF THERE ARE DETAINEES WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, IF THEY – OR DETAINEES WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR RAPED, THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL AND THE IDF NEED TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THOSE ACTIONS AND HOLD ANYONE RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO CALLED THE REPORTS “DEEPLY CONCERNING.”

MILLER SAYS THE IDF HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGATIONS AND A NUMBER OF IDF SOLDIERS SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVED HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

THE IDF HAS NOT RESPONDED PUBLICLY TO THE ALLEGATIONS.

THE FOOTAGE WAS FIRST BROADCAST BY ISRAELI CHANNEL 12. AT FIRST, IT SHOWS DETAINEES LYING ON THE GROUND AT THE COMPLEX. IT THEN SHOWS A GROUP OF IDF SOLDIERS TAKING A DETAINEE TO THE CORNER OF THE FACILITY WHERE THE ALLEGED ABUSE TOOK PLACE.

THE VICTIM – BELIEVED TO BE A MAN IN HIS 30S – WAS TAKEN TO AN ISRAELI HOSPITAL IN LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION WITH INJURIES TO HIS UPPER BODY AND RECTUM, ACCORDING TO CNN.

THESE ARE NOT THE FIRST SUCH ALLEGATIONS TO COME FROM SDE TEIMAN. 

PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAS BEEN RAISING THE ALARM FOR MONTHS ABOUT ALLEGED WIDESPREAD ABUSES OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS BY ISRAEL’S MILITARY AT THE ISRAELI MILITARY BASE.

THE GROUP SAYS “HUNDREDS HAVE SUFFERED MEDICAL NEGLECT, AND MANY HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO ABUSE AND TORTURE” AT THE BASE AND OTHER FACILITIES. 

BACK IN JULY, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ORDERED AN END TO LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT AT THE FACILITY.

RIGHT NOW — ISRAEL’S HIGH COURT IS CONSIDERING A PETITION TO SHUT DOWN SDE TEIMAN AFTER THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURFACED. 

FOR SAN, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR..

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