'A shocking picture of violence' IDF soldiers accused of routine abuse on streets of West Bank

Israeli soldiers based in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron have intensified a campaign of arbitrary detentions, beatings and abuse of Palestinians, according to Guardian interviews with residents and research by the human rights group B'Tselem.

- Bethan McKernan

Three people described being seized on the street while going about their daily business on flimsy pretexts such as having photos of Palestinian flags found on their phones or allegations of stone-throwing. They were handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to nearby military posts, where they were subjected to mental and physical abuse for hours. One 60-year-old man, Bader a-Tamimi, said he was hit in the torso and thrown against the wall after asking soldiers to stop destroying souvenirs in his shop.

The Guardian's findings support a new B'Tselem report based on more than 20 similar testimonies collected in Hebron, which has a heavy Israeli army presence, between May and August. B'Tselem alleges there has been a shift in the scope, type and severity of violence inflicted by Israeli forces on Palestinians in the West Bank since 7 October 2023. In more than one incident, the assailants recorded or livestreamed the abuse in video calls, apparently unconcerned about repercussions. The report paints what the Jerusalem-based group's executive director, Yuli Novak, called a "shocking picture of the violent behavioural norms of Israeli soldiers".

One interviewee, Amir Jaber, 19, along with his father, Aref, 50, was detained and beaten again on his way home last week after talking to the Guardian and the German public broadcaster ARD. He said he had told friends beforehand he was going to meet journalists.