The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem published a report yesterday that is a case study of recurring instances of severe abuse of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers in the center of Hebron throughout the summer of 2024. “B’Tselem gathered 25 testimonies from Palestinians who were abused by Israeli soldiers in central Hebron between May and August 2024,” it says in the introduction to the report. It continues:
“The testimonies describe acts of violence, humiliation, and abuse directed by soldiers at men, women, teenagers and children. Victims gave harrowing accounts of physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, whipping, having cigarettes put out on their bodies, blows to their genitals, injection of an unidentified substance, prolonged binding and blindfolding, threats, insults and more.
“Soldiers selected the victims arbitrarily as they went about their daily lives: On their way to work or back home, drinking coffee in their yards, or while running errands. In most cases, they were taken by soldiers to military facilities, where most of the abuse occurred. None of the victims were suspected of any offense or prosecuted. They were released immediately after being assaulted, and many required medical treatment after the fact. Only two victims were arrested, and both were released within days without being charged.
