Sde Teiman Reservists Cleared to Return to Duty After Charges Dropped
About a month after the indictment was withdrawn, the IDF said a pending command inquiry into the five Sde Teiman reservists "does not prevent them from continuing to serve." Army Radio reported some had already returned to duty, including combat roles. Middle East Eye's report on this ("reservists filmed raping and torturing a detainee") became a widely shared version of the claim.
On April 16, 2026, Haaretz and Army Radio reported — and Al Jazeera and JNS relayed — that the five Force 100 reservists whose indictment had been withdrawn on March 12 were cleared to serve again. The IDF said: "The investigation does not prevent them from continuing to serve," and that "the command-level investigation will be completed as soon as possible." Army Radio reported that some had already returned to active duty, including combat roles. (Al Jazeera; JNS)
No disciplinary findings had been announced. The outcome of the command inquiry has not been found in later reporting.
Middle East Eye's report on the reinstatement carried the subheadline "Army chief approves return of reservists filmed raping and torturing a detainee" — the version of the claim most widely shared online. See the fact check below for what the footage does and does not show.
Sources & References
- 1. Al Jazeera (citing Haaretz and Army Radio): Israeli army says soldiers accused of abusing Palestinian to return to duty (Apr 16, 2026)
- 2. JNS: Former suspects in Sde Teiman affair reinstated as reservists (Apr 2026)
- 3. Middle East Eye: "Israeli soldiers suspected of raping Palestinian detainee allowed to return to service" (Apr 16, 2026) — origin of the circulating claim (subheadline); widely reposted, e.g. israelpalestinenews.org