A large majority think that soldiers who rape should escape punishment

Published 21 August 2024 at 14.07

Foreign. A new poll shows that a majority of Jewish Israelis believe that the soldiers accused of gang-raping a Palestinian prisoner should not be brought to justice, but merely disciplined by the army. Middle East Eye reports.

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The survey, conducted by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), shows that 65 percent of Israeli Jews think that the suspected soldiers should not be prosecuted for their actions.

Only 21 percent think the soldiers should be brought to justice for the crime.

The nine soldiers were arrested at the end of July after military police carried out a raid at the Sde Teiman concentration camp, where several Palestinian prisoners have allegedly been abused since the war in Gaza began in October.

The events led to so-called rape riots when a large crowd tried to free the imprisoned soldiers, whose actions were also defended in the parliament Knesset:

Top Israeli politicians defend gang rape of Palestinians:

"Everything is legitimate – everything!"

Violent mob tried to free the nine suspected soldiers – who are defended by the minister. https://t.co/jWTvsUpQxI

— Fria Tider (@friatider) August 1, 2024

Five of the arrested soldiers have been released and placed under house arrest while the army considers whether or not to prosecute them.

The the new survey also shows that 47 percent of Israeli Jews believe that Israel should completely ignore international law during the ongoing war in Gaza.