Israeli Border Police Squad Commander Charged with Assault and Indecent Acts Against Female Officer

The Israeli Police Investigations Department (Mahash) filed charges on Wednesday against a Border Police squad commander accused of brutally assaulting and committing an indecent act against a female Border Police officer. The indictment, submitted to the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court by attorney Lidor Malka, details that the commander and the female officer, who enlisted a few months after him, were at a club building on their base near Jerusalem. Under the pretext of a "swearing-in ceremony" for the officer, the commander ordered her to turn her back to him and place her hands on a refrigerator.

He then questioned her and struck her about 15 times with his fists on her ribs whenever she answered incorrectly. He subsequently ordered her to remove her coat and face him, continuing to hit her in the abdomen and pulling her hair. At one point, the commander sat with legs apart, forcefully pulled her hair until she bent to her knees between his legs, and without her consent, pulled her face close to his genital area. The female officer eventually broke free in shock and stood up.

The investigation was conducted by the Jerusalem team of Mahash. The case highlights serious allegations of abuse of power and sexual misconduct within the Israeli Border Police.