Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
(B'Tselem), reported that the Military Police will investigate eight
cases in which Palestinians filed complaints that soldiers beat and
abused them. An attorney of the General Command of the Israeli Army
told B'Tselem that the cases were transferred to the Judge Advocate
General's Office demanding investigation.
B'Tselem reported that it collected testimonies in recent weeks portraying grave picture of violence against Palestinians by soldiers in the northern West Bank, particularly in the area between Nablus and Tulkarem.
Most of the abuses took place in August after soldiers attacked Palestinians moving through military checkpoints from one Palestinian area to another.
The testimonies revealed that soldiers beat, swore at, and degraded the residents besides damaging their properties; many of the abused residents required hospitalization.
B'Tselem welcomed the decision to probe the attacks, and stated that it is willing to assist the military police in order to obtain all needed information.
The Center added that an investigation into these violations is essential for ensuring that it succeeds in establishing the facts.
B'Tselem added that it wants to convey a message to the soldiers serving in the Occupied Palestinian territories that “Palestinian lives and properties must be respected”.
