An Israeli military court has extended the detention of five soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee from Gaza at Sde Teiman Prison in the Negev desert. The soldiers’ detention has been extended until next Tuesday, as reported by Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
On July 29, Israel’s official broadcasting authority KAN reported that ten Israeli soldiers had been detained after causing serious injuries to the Palestinian detainee. However, five of those soldiers were later released.
Recent reports by Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights organizations have indicated that prisoners from Gaza have been subjected to torture at Sde Teiman Prison, leading to numerous deaths. The Israeli Supreme Court is currently considering a petition by local human rights organizations to close the prison, citing medical neglect and other abuses faced by Palestinian detainees.
The controversy comes amid Israel’s continued military offensive on Gaza, which began following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas last October. The conflict has resulted in nearly 39,600 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and approximately 91,400 injuries, according to local health authorities.
International condemnation has mounted against Israel for flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and has ordered an immediate halt to its military operations in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before the city was invaded on May 6. Gaza remains devastated, facing a crippling blockade that has restricted access to food, clean water, and medicine.–News Desk