Protesters gather outside the Sde Teiman detention center in southern Israel, July 29, 2024. (Credit: Amir Cohen/Reuters)
Israel was rocked by a day of chaos on Monday after far-right protesters, encouraged by hardline politicians in the ruling coalition, stormed two military bases. The incidents began when protesters stormed the Sde Teiman base, where Palestinians arrested in Gaza are being held, as well as the Israeli military court. The actions highlighted growing tensions in Israeli society and the security challenges the country faces.
The unrest erupted after the army's military police arrested nine reservists from the "Force 100" unit at the "Sde Teiman" base.
The base serves as a detention center for Palestinians who are accused of involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and suspects captured by the Israeli army during the Gaza war.
Recent reports in the Israeli and international press have criticized the conditions of detention at the base, which some human rights organizations have called "Israeli Guantanamo." Since Oct. 7, more than 30 detainees have reportedly lost their lives there. The investigation into the nine reservists was launched after a detainee was hospitalized with serious injuries.
According to concordant sources, the reservists are accused of mistreatment, including sexual assault and rape. The reaction of the security forces was followed by an intervention by ultranationalist politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who publicly supported the reservists and criticized the military command.
Shortly after the first reports were published on social media, hundreds of protesters, including far-right MKs, stormed the Sde Teiman base. They then headed to another military base near Tel Aviv, which houses the military court and a detention center. The Israeli police, under the authority of Minister Ben-Gvir, were largely passive, arresting no protesters despite the riots.
Israeli army Chief of Staff Gen. Herzi Halevi had to interrupt meetings about a possible attack on Hezbollah to go to the military police headquarters, which was surrounded by protesters. Several of them chanted hostile slogans and called for his resignation. The Israeli army had to mobilize combat units to protect military installations.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.