The base Sde Teiman has come into focus after nine reservists were arrested for questioning about brutal sexual assaults against a Palestinian detainee. At Sde Teiman, a few miles east of Gaza, many of the Palestinians captured in the war are being held.
The fact that soldiers were implicated in such an investigation triggered such great anger in Israeli settler and right-wing circles that demonstrators marched to the base. As Haaretz and other newspapers describe it, the base was stormed on Monday by a crowd, including politicians from the extreme settler right.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reacts strongly, accusing Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of having hindered the police's intervention against the demonstrators. Ben-Gvir represents the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit (roughly "Jewish Power" in Swedish) in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"Hard blow"
Netanyahu must "make a strong mark against the coalition members involved", Gallant writes in a letter to the prime minister, referring to, among others, Ben-Gvir, according to Haaretz.
"Yesterday's events constitute a hard blow to the country's security and to the government's authority", he continues.
The storming has been condemned by both the military (IDF) and Netanyahu – though in too mild terms, according to Gallant, among others. And opposition leader Benny Gantz notes that Israel has a war to focus on.
We are facing a very challenging time in the north, he says in a recorded statement, referring to the exchange of fire across the border with Lebanon.
IDF should be able to focus on striking Hezbollah, we should not strike IDF.
Tightened security
At the same time, it is also emphasized that the fundamental issue, the suspected abuses at Sde Teiman, must not be forgotten.
Laws must apply to everyone, even in times of anger, said Yoav Gallant on Monday.
According to Haaretz, the nine suspects have been taken to Beit Lid, another military base further north. There, security has now been significantly tightened, pending a military court's decision on whether they will remain detained.
