Israeli Border Police Commander Indicted for Assault at Jerusalem Checkpoint

The Police Investigations Department (Mahash) filed charges on Monday against a Border Police commander accused of assaulting a Palestinian at a checkpoint near Jerusalem. The indictment, submitted by attorney Dror Friedman, alleges the commander, who led the checkpoint known as the "kiosk" container, committed assault causing serious injury, threats, and unlawful computer intrusion.

According to the indictment, the incident occurred when a vehicle carrying the complainant and seven others was stopped for inspection. Officers collected IDs and confiscated mobile phones, reviewing their contents. Upon discovering an image of a weapon on the complainant's phone, the commander removed him from the vehicle and took him behind the detention cell at the checkpoint.

The commander reportedly pressed the complainant against a wall and struck him in the abdomen and chest. He then used an improvised baton to beat the complainant, causing a fracture in his left hand and bleeding. Afterward, the commander poured water over the complainant's body in an apparent attempt to wash away the blood stains. The complainant was then pushed back into the vehicle, and the commander threatened another officer not to disclose the incident.