Three Israeli Reservists Charged with Abuse of Hamas Prisoner After Female Soldier's Complaint

Three Israeli reservist soldiers are facing charges at the military court in Beit Lid for alleged aggravated abuse of a Hamas prisoner at the Naftali detention facility. The soldiers were called in after a female soldier reported that the Hamas detainee had sexually harassed her. The incident occurred in December 2024, and the accused are now being prosecuted for their conduct during the event.

The defense attorney, Efraim Damari, criticized the legal process, calling it "an absurd affair." He noted that the complaint was filed months after the incident and that the Hamas prisoner, who was reportedly involved in the October 7 attacks, had already been released and deported to Gaza before the investigation began. This, Damari argued, prevented the defendants from confronting or cross-examining the key witness. Furthermore, there is no visual evidence supporting the allegations against the reservists.

MK Tali Gottlieb attended the court to support the reservists and condemned the military prosecution's handling of the case, stating it is unacceptable for law enforcement to prioritize the testimony of a terrorist over that of soldiers. She also pointed out that the indictment does not mention any sexual assault by the prisoner against the soldier. Sima Hasson, chairwoman of the Mothers' March organization, who spoke with the soldiers before the hearing, said the legal proceedings have "ruined their lives" and that the stigma will follow them for years.

The IDF spokesperson clarified that the investigation was launched following a report of suspected abuse of the detainee, who had been held without authorization in Israel since August 2023 and was arrested in October 2024. The detainee's detention order was canceled at the end of December 2024, and he was deported to Gaza before the investigation started, so he did not testify or appear on the witness list. The indictment, filed on July 1, 2026, is based on testimonies from the accused and other soldiers, with no complaint filed regarding sexual harassment by the detainee.