TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Israeli military court extended the detention of seven Israeli soldiers on Wednesday over allegations of harassment, threats, and rape against younger soldiers in a unit, according to media reports.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, as cited by Anadolu and The Times of Israel, reported that the court extended the detention for six days.
Seven soldiers from the Arrow air defense system of the Air Force were detained on Tuesday for alleged sexual harassment of their junior colleagues.
"The offenses were committed over the past six months as part of 'seniority games' and lasted for several weeks, allegedly including acts of sodomy," the newspaper said.
According to the Ynet news site, which first reported the story, the incidents included allegations of sodomy and occurred over several weeks involving around 10 new soldiers in the unit.
Investigators are examining whether there are allegations of attacks that occurred during the recent war against Iran, in which the unit played a key role in defending Israel against ballistic missile attacks.
Sexual crimes by Israeli soldiers are not only committed against their colleagues. Several cases of brutal rape have also been reported against Palestinian prisoners.
One such case emerged in July 2024 when a video showed a Palestinian male prisoner being gang-raped by guards at the Sde Teiman detention facility in the Negev desert, southern Israel, as verified by Al Jazeera.
The victim was reportedly left with damaged anus due to sodomy, severe internal organ damage, and the inability to walk again.
Ten Israeli soldiers were eventually arrested for the rape allegations on July 29, in a case that shook Israeli society. The soldiers were part of a unit known as Unit 100, tasked with guarding the Sde Teiman facility, according to Haaretz.
Military prosecutors released three soldiers arrested on August 4, in addition to the two previously released by investigators after a July 30 military court hearing in Kfar Yona, where supporters gathered in support of the detained soldiers.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argued that any action, even group rape, is permissible if done for the security of the country.
These developments come after Israeli soldiers have killed nearly 57,700 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. Relentless bombings have destroyed the enclave and caused food shortages and disease outbreaks.
Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war in the enclave.
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