Protests Erupt Over Allegations of Abuse in Israel

A scandal has erupted in Israel following allegations that reservists from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sexually abused a Palestinian prisoner, prompting widespread protests from far-right groups defending the accused. The detainee reportedly suffered severe injuries, leading to hospitalization, and the investigation has drawn attention to ongoing human rights abuses in Israeli detention facilities. In a heated Knesset meeting, Likud party lawmaker Hanoch Milwidsky controversially justified extreme measures against Palestinian detainees, asserting that 'everything is legitimate' if the detainee is a Hamas militant. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also supported the protests, which involved lawmakers and activists storming military bases to demand the release of the detained soldiers. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for calm, the incident has exposed deep political divisions in Israeli society regarding treatment of Palestinian prisoners and military conduct. Human rights organizations have condemned the actions and highlighted the deteriorating conditions for detainees in Israeli prisons.