Right-wing mobs storm second IDF base over arrest of 9 soldiers suspected of abusing terror prisoners

The unrest and chaos that began on Monday afternoon continued overnight as mobs of right-wing coalition supporters, including several Members of Knesset from the Religious Zionism and Jewish Power parties, stormed the Sde Teiman IDF base in southern Israel. Additional mobs attempted to break into the Beit Lid base where the detained soldiers are being held.

הלם בצה"ל מהתנהלות המשטרה (נטולת המפכ"ל).
גורמים צבאיים אומרים שבמצ"ח התחננו למשטרה שישלחו כוחות פינוי לבסיס בית ליד כדי למנוע את מראות שדה תימן אך המשטרה סירבה במכוון: "במשטרה אמרו לנו שחיילים יפתרו את זה. גם עכשיו בכירים במשטרה עושים הכל כדי להקטין את חומרת האירוע כמעודדים את… pic.twitter.com/GQEyQSVLyt
— יואב זיתון (@yoavzitun) July 29, 2024

After a brief intrusion by several rioters, military and police forces were deployed around the military courts on Beit Lid on Tuesday morning to prevent further attempts to infiltrate the base.

During demonstrations on Monday night and into the early morning hours on Tuesday, several dozen demonstrators managed to open the gate and enter the base. After several minutes of confusion, police and IDF soldiers at the scene pushed the demonstrators out of the base.

The IDF severely criticized Israel Police for its response to the demonstrations at both Sde Teiman and Beit Lid, alleging that the forces needed to restrain the mobs from breaking into the bases.IDF leadership said they did not understand how the demonstrators managed to enter the bases despite the presence of police.

As a result of the intrusion, the IDF called in the Border Police and IDF reserve troops to help remove demonstrators from the bases.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who came to Beit Lid after hearing about the riots, stated: “We came to Beit Lid because that is where our soldiers are, and to make sure nothing worse happens. The arrival of rioters and attempts to break into bases are severe behavior in violation of the law, bordering on anarchy, harming the IDF, state security and the war effort.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also condemned the riots on 𝕏.

“The break-in of civilians into IDF bases is a serious incident that severely harms Israeli democracy and plays into the hands of our enemies in times of war,” he wrote.

On Tuesday morning, Gallant sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding "strong action against the coalition members who participated in the riots" and asked Netanyahu "to order an immediate investigation to examine whether the Minister of National Security prevented or delayed the police action in response to the violent events in which members of his party were partners."

The incident was mentioned by Tasnim News, an Iran-affiliated news site, which called the riot "a loss of control by the security agency."

תומכי הימין, כולל חיילים רעולי פנים ומתנחלים, הסתערו על בסיס בית ליד, בו נמצא בית הדין הצבאי של צבא ישראל, וסירבו לעצור 9 חיילים המעורבים בפשעים של עינויים מיניים המוניים נגד אסיר מרצועת עזה, על רקע מצב של אובדן שליטה על ידי שב"כ.https://t.co/O5tIK77x9t pic.twitter.com/MYoxfBqzQy
— TasnimNews Hebrew (@Tasnimnews_he) July 30, 2024

Gallant continued: “The IDF has my full backing as defense minister to take measures and act immediately to prevent unauthorized civilians from entering IDF bases.”

A military official said that demonstrators and rioters should be handled by police and not IDF soldiers. He also condemned the behavior of the mobs.

"When you encounter a terrorist on the battlefield, the task is to kill them. When a terrorist is arrested, there are orders, rules and laws.”

The Israel Police rejected the IDF’s criticism saying that “the incident was handled professionally and decisively, and control was achieved quickly.”

“The Israel Police enforced law and order professionally while allowing freedom of demonstration and protest. We regret the attempts being made to discredit the police and their work,” the police statement said. “The police will continue to enforce law and order and allow freedom of demonstration and protest, according to the law.”

The incident, including the arrests of the soldiers and the ensuing riots, caused significant outrage among politicians and disagreements between coalition members.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that "a handful of rioters are breaking into IDF bases and dismantling our state and the rule of law.” He said the people need to decide, “Do you want a state or militias here that do whatever they want?”

He also attacked the coalition government over its response to the riots.

“I call on the government – show leadership already. Stop pouring gasoline on the fire and prevent the dismantling of the State of Israel.”

Shanna Orlik, a member of the Hitorerut movement, said she filed a police complaint against Knesset Member Zvi Sukkot for breaking into the Sde Teiman base. She noted that such behavior is a criminal offense punishable by a prison sentence.

Knesset Member Tali Gottlieb of the Likud party refused to condemn the riots.

"I do not condemn the breaking into the IDF bases," Gottlieb said, referring to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who said, in 2023: "There is no effective protest without disturbing the public order."

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the demonstration was justified, especially when compared to the behavior during the judicial reform protests last year.

“Unlike the hypocritical left, which turned breaking the law, refusal [to serve], and setting the state on fire into a method for a year and a half under the auspices of the attorney general, we have a responsibility to the state,” Smotrich said.

“Therefore, I call on everyone to uphold the law and the integrity of the army and the people. Not to break into bases and not to confront our brothers, soldiers and policemen, and to guard the boundaries of the protest.”