IDF Soldiers Sue Israel for $5 Million Over Sde Teiman Case

Three soldiers from the "Force 100" unit have filed a civil lawsuit against the State of Israel, seeking 18 million shekels (approximately $5 million USD) in damages. The soldiers claim they suffered significant harm during the investigation into an incident at the Sde Teiman detention facility in southern Israel during the summer of 2024. The lawsuit, filed at the Jerusalem District Court, names the state, military and civilian prosecution officials, and media figures as defendants.

The soldiers allege they were unjustly accused, detained, and subjected to media leaks during the investigation. The original case involved suspicions that reservists guarding Palestinian security detainees at Sde Teiman violently assaulted a prisoner, who was hospitalized with severe injuries. A surveillance video of the alleged assault was leaked to the media, sparking a political controversy.

Initially, five soldiers were indicted in February 2025 for aggravated assault. However, in March 2026, the new chief military prosecutor, Itay Ofir, dropped all charges. He cited evidentiary difficulties, the detainee's return to Gaza, and irregularities surrounding the leak of the video as reasons for discontinuing the prosecution.

The current lawsuit also addresses the subsequent investigation into the source of the video leak and how authorities handled it. The plaintiffs accuse former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, prosecution officials, military police, Israeli police, journalist Guy Peleg, and N12 of misconduct. They claim the investigation into the leaks was delayed and insufficient, and that judicial officials provided incomplete or misleading information to the High Court.

The soldiers are seeking specific damages for alleged defamation, wrongful accusation, fifteen days of detention, and harm related to the sexual offense suspicion and the leak investigation. They argue that the chief military prosecutor's decision to drop the charges validates their claims of significant irregularities in the initial proceedings and the handling of the leak.