17.03.2026 10:54
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the dismissal of the Sde Teiman case, which was opened due to the rape images of Palestinian prisoners held in Gaza. Netanyahu described the prolonged nature of the case as "unthinkable," claiming that the prosecution of soldiers tarnished Israel's reputation. Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch also supported the decision to dismiss the Sde Teiman case.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the decision to drop the Sde Teiman case, in which Israeli soldiers accused of raping a Palestinian prisoner captured from Gaza were being tried.
In a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu claimed that the prolonged duration of the case against Israeli soldiers was an "incredible" situation.
NETANYAHU: THIS IS A BLOOD LIBEL
Netanyahu suggested that the case opened after the leak of images showing the rape of a Palestinian prisoner in the Sde Teiman military prison was a "blood libel" that unprecedentedly defamed Israel in front of the international public. He claimed that the case against Israeli soldiers was a "crime" in itself.
SCANDALOUS SUPPORT FROM THE EDUCATION MINISTER
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch supported the decision to drop the Sde Teiman case from his account on the US-based X company's social media platform. Minister Kisch argued that it was time for Channel 12, which published images of Israeli soldiers raping a Palestinian prisoner with a foreign object, to apologize to the Israeli army.
CASE OFFICIALLY CLOSED
The Israeli army announced today that Military Prosecutor Itay Ophir has closed the Sde Teiman case, in which five Israeli soldiers were being tried, and canceled the indictment.
RAPE IMAGES HAD BEEN PUBLISHED
Israel's Channel 12 had published footage showing soldiers surrounding the Palestinian prisoner during the rape and attempting to hide from the cameras in the detention center. Investigations had been launched against the soldiers for crimes such as "torture, perversion, and attempted bodily harm," and it was reported that nine soldiers had been detained.
In response to this news, in July 2024, an extreme right-wing group gathered in front of the detention center to protest. While the suspected soldiers were to be detained, extreme right-wing individuals, including members of parliament, stormed the Sde Teiman military base.
While the trial against Israeli soldiers continued, former military prosecutor Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, accused of leaking the rape images of Israeli soldiers to the press, was detained in early November 2025, and an investigation was launched against her.