Honenu Attorney Ophir Steiner; Photo credit: Reut Steiner
Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 16:25 A short time ago, the reserve soldier who was brutally detained yesterday by military police officers (see video clip below) near the Kerem Shalom Crossing while protesting the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza was released from remand. The soldier required medical care after his detention and was treated at the military clinic in Neve Tzedek Prison (Prison 10). Honenu Attorney Ophir Steiner is representing the soldier.
Attorney Steiner welcomed the decision to release the soldier and said, “The soldier fell victim to an attempt to create a display of toughening standpoints – concerning civilians and soldiers equally – at the Kerem Shalom Crossing. He was brutally detained by military police officers and taken into remand at Prison 10 as if he were a hardened criminal. He spent a night in prison before he saw a doctor and gave testimony. Immediately after his testimony was heard, the law enforcement authorities in the IDF understood that there were no grounds to keep him in remand. He was released even before appearing in a military court. We welcome the decision, even though it arrived late, after he was physically injured, and his rights were violated. We hope that the brutal police officers will be investigated.”
Yesterday, 13 demonstrators protesting the transfer of goods (“humanitarian aid”) to Gaza were detained at the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Among the detainees was the reserve soldier, who was brutally detained and handcuffed at the scene. The investigators informed the soldier that he would spend the night in remand, even though he had not yet been interrogated and had not yet given testimony. Due to injuries sustained during the detention, he required medical treatment and was transferred in the late evening from the Military Criminal Investigation Division (MCID) offices in Be’er Sheva to the military clinic in Neve Tzedek Prison. However, he did not see a doctor until the following morning.
Military police officers brutally knocking the reserve soldier to the ground; Video credit: Honenu