Israeli Mother Describes Abuse of Son by Reservist Soldiers at West Bank Outpost

Inbal Ze'ev, a mother of eight from the West Bank settlement of Kodesh, recounted a harrowing incident involving her 17-year-old son at the nearby Tal Telfiyot outpost. Her son, who was with friends when reservist soldiers arrived, was reportedly shot at with live fire despite identifying himself as Jewish and pleading, "I'm Jewish, please don't shoot." The boy chose not to flee due to trauma from a previous shooting incident involving a friend.

After being detained, Ze'ev said her son was blindfolded, handcuffed, and dragged down a hill, subjected to hours of physical abuse including punches, kicks, and threats. She described hearing a commander say, "We hate you more than a Palestinian. We shoot a Palestinian with one bullet and kill him, but we will kill you slowly with beatings." Her son was later handed over to Border Police officers who expressed shock at the treatment and released him without charges in the early morning hours.

Ze'ev's family, all of whom serve or have served in the Israel Defense Forces, filed a complaint with the Military Police Investigations Unit but remain skeptical about the investigation's progress. She criticized the ongoing presence of the same officer in the area, interpreting it as a sign that no accountability has occurred. Ze'ev condemned the violence and stigmatization of settler youth, often labeled as "hilltop youth terrorists," emphasizing their ideological commitment to settling the land and calling for nonviolent dispute resolution.

Expressing fear of escalating violence, Ze'ev warned that without clear boundaries and accountability, such incidents could lead to disaster. Her husband is currently serving another reserve tour in Lebanon, and her eldest son recently enlisted in the Golani Brigade. Ze'ev urged the military system to thoroughly investigate and prevent recurrence of such abuses against Jewish youths in the West Bank.