Gaza Herald- Israeli sources revealed that the military police have arrested seven soldiers from the “Hetz” air defense unit on charges of physical and sexual assault against ten underage soldiers within the same unit.
The report adds that investigations are ongoing to determine whether some of these assaults took place during the recent war against Iran.
Israeli media have previously reported numerous cases of moral corruption within various institutions of the regime—including instances of sexual harassment, abuse, and drug use—particularly within its security, military, and police forces.
Over 2,000 Sexual Assault Cases Reported in One Year
Israeli media, including Maariv, have reported a sharp rise in sexual harassment complaints within the Israeli military, with new figures showing over 2,000 cases recorded in 2024 alone—a more than threefold increase since 2014.
According to official statistics presented by Brigadier General Ella Shado Shechtman, the Gender Affairs Adviser to the Chief of Staff, 2,092 reports of sexual assault were registered last year. Notably, 73% of these incidents took place in military contexts during service, and 82% of victims were women. Men made up 17% of reported victims.
Despite the high number of reports, only 235 formal complaints were filed and investigated. Of these, just 49 cases proceeded to court and led to indictments. The rest were handled internally or dismissed.
A breakdown of the reported misconduct reveals that 30% involved verbal harassment, 23% physical contact not classified as inappropriate, 19% inappropriate behavior, 16% hostile environments, and 8% involved the filming or distribution of explicit images. The most severe offenses—such as rape or attempted rape—accounted for only 2% of total reports.
Most accused perpetrators were conscripts, though officers and permanent service personnel were also implicated. Alarmingly, 63% of victims opted for informal resolution through military command channels, rather than pursuing official complaints via the Military Police Criminal Investigation Unit (MPCA).
The findings were presented during a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session examining the army’s handling of sexual misconduct. The data underscore persistent institutional failures in addressing abuse, despite increased awareness and reporting mechanisms.
