Seven Israeli Combat Engineers Charged with Severe Abuse of Fellow Soldiers

Seven soldiers from an Israeli Combat Engineering unit have been charged with severe abuse against younger soldiers, as reported on Wednesday by the Kan 11 news program "Binyamini and Moalem." The accused have been in custody for over six weeks, facing indictments that include multiple counts of aggravated abuse. The charges reveal a disturbing pattern of physical and psychological violence, humiliation, systematic punishment, and harm inflicted over a prolonged period, described within the unit as "Pazam games." This was not isolated misconduct but a consistent practice enforced by unofficial "platoon laws" presented to new recruits upon arrival.

The young soldiers were forbidden from expressing fatigue or complaints, with phrases like "I am tired" or "How long?" banned. They were told that "a junior does not ask questions" and that "a veteran's word is stronger than an officer's." Violations of these rules led to violent punishments. The indictment details numerous abuses, including beatings with fists and weapon stocks for minor infractions such as unclean toilets. Some soldiers suffered bruises and back injuries but avoided seeking medical help out of fear of further violence.

Specific incidents include locking a soldier in a room and whipping him with a weapon stock after he said "How long?" Another soldier was held for half an hour while being punched and whipped. In one case, a veteran turned off the lights, locked a room, and beat a soldier with a baton, weapon stock, and fists for several minutes. Other punishments involved striking fingers with keys attached to a leather strap and conducting disciplinary assemblies in toilets where soldiers were beaten for cleanliness failures.

The abuse extended to the use of pepper spray, which was sprayed into rooms and toilets, causing respiratory distress and eye pain. Humiliations also occurred in showers, where soldiers were doused with cleaning chemicals and ordered to shower with the substances still on their bodies. One accused called himself "Pharaoh" and boasted about the tradition of beating younger soldiers. The indictment also mentions threats and use of a stun gun, though it reportedly malfunctioned and was not used.

The investigation exposes a severe culture of abuse within this combat engineering platoon, with the military taking legal action against the perpetrators. The accused remain in detention as the case proceeds.