Three Israeli Reservists Face Military Trial Over Alleged Abuse of Hamas Detainee

Three Israeli reservist soldiers are being tried at the military court in Beit Lid for aggravated abuse of a detainee at the Naftali detention facility. The incident reportedly occurred in December 2024 after a female soldier alleged that the detainee, a Hamas operative, sexually harassed her. The detainee was deported back to Gaza before the investigation began, complicating the defense's ability to cross-examine him or challenge his claims in court.

The defense, led by attorney Ephraim Damari, argues that the detainee was involved in the October 7 attacks and that the case is flawed due to the absence of visual evidence and the detainee's unavailability for testimony. Damari criticized the proceedings as an "absurd affair," noting the complaint was filed months after the event when the detainee was no longer in custody.

Supporters including Knesset Member Tali Gottlieb and Sima Hasson, chair of the Mothers' March organization, attended the hearing. Gottlieb condemned the military prosecution's handling, asserting it unfairly favors the detainee's version over the soldiers'. Hasson relayed that the accused soldiers feel their lives have been severely impacted by the charges.

The IDF spokesperson clarified that the indictment is based on direct testimonies from the accused and other soldiers, not on the detainee's complaint, who did not testify or appear as a witness. The detainee, an unauthorized Gaza resident in Israel since August 2023, was detained in October 2024 and deported by the end of that year before the investigation started. The military prosecution filed charges on July 1, 2026, after the suspects declined to present a hearing. The IDF also stated there is no record of a sexual harassment complaint against the detainee.