Paratrooper Soldier's Detention Extended Amid Torture Allegations

The detention of a paratrooper soldier has been extended as he faces allegations of severe abuse against a Palestinian detainee who was not involved in terrorist activity. The soldier was arrested two weeks ago after fellow soldiers reported his alleged actions to their commanders. Military Police (MP) suspect the soldier burned the detainee with cigarettes and beat him, though the soldier denies the accusations. The alleged incident occurred on October 22, when paratroopers apprehended the Palestinian during a vehicle inspection near Jenin after finding a knife in his car. He was then handcuffed, blindfolded, and taken to the Jalameh outpost to await questioning by the Shin Bet. During this wait, the soldier allegedly kicked the bound and blindfolded detainee, hit him with his personal weapon, and extinguished cigarettes on him. Further suspicions include the soldier urinating on the detainee, defecating in the post, and smearing feces on the detainee's body and face while urging him to consume it. The detainee was released shortly after the incident, as no suspicion of involvement in terrorism was found against him. Following the soldiers' report to their commanders, an investigation was launched. After the suspect did not confess to all allegations, the battalion commander transferred the case to the MP. Three soldiers were interrogated, one was released immediately, and another a week later, as investigators gathered sufficient evidence against the third. The suspect admitted to hitting the detainee but denied other claims, though his account was inconsistent with investigators' information and other soldiers' testimonies. IDF sources stated that findings so far establish suspicion of the soldier's severe abuse of the detainee in multiple ways. The soldier has been detained for two weeks, and an indictment is expected soon. His identity is currently withheld from publication. The Palestinian detainee later testified to the MP about the alleged abuse. A military court extended the soldier's detention until November 12, 2026, with the defense's agreement, pending a pre-indictment hearing. The soldier's lawyer, Yossi Bokar, stated they prefer not to comment on the specifics as the investigation is ongoing.