The IDF has fired and is now criminally probing two IDF Home Front Command soldiers for allegedly beating a Palestinian last Friday near the village of Nabi Saleh in the Ramallah area.
No announcement to the media was made, but a video of the incident was circulated, leading to media attention and a response by the IDF to inquiries on Wednesday which confirmed the incident.
According to the military, "After the incident, a military police investigation was opened, Upon its completion, its findings will be forwarded to the Military Advocate General for review."
"The incident will be investigated by the authorized command authorities, and the soldiers involved have been removed from combat functions. The IDF strongly condemns [the incident] and views manifestations of violence of any kind as grave" violations, it added.
IDF troops arrived in the area following a report of a potentially problematic gathering of Palestinians, and detained one of them, who was described as a suspect, though no details were given regarding potential charges.
However, subsequently, a video revealed that the soldiers beat the Palestinian, while they were standing behind a military vehicle.
Scope of punishment hints that force was unnecessary, not self-defense
Given that the soldiers were immediately punished on a lower level, and then fired from combat roles, and are now being criminally probed, the allegations would be that whatever physical force they used against the detainee was unnecessary and not in self-defense.
At press time, no defense lawyers had publicly come forward yet with any counter-narrative from the soldiers, though the Jerusalem Post has contacted the IDF Public Defender for comment.