Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, issued an order to “permanently halt the use of IDF soldiers as prison guards for terrorist prisoners within six months.”
The move comes more than five months after former Defense Secretary Benny Gantz ordered an investigation into the arrangement following accusations that “convicted terrorists attacked and raped female soldiers serving as prison guards.”
Ben Gvir said in a statement that “IDF soldiers will no longer serve in the wings of high security prisons that hold terrorist prisoners, but will continue to work in the prison service at the second level of protection, which includes guarding prison buildings, having only limited interaction with prisoners.” Noting that “the decision was made after a series of serious incidents in which soldiers and women working in the penitentiary service were injured.”
He pointed out that “The Prison Service should be ready to make such a change within six months and replace the soldiers with veterans and experienced jailers.”
And last August, Gantz sent a letter to then-Public Security Minister Omar Bar-Lev demanding that “soldiers should not be allowed to be in the same prison wings as Palestinian terrorist criminals until allegations of rape are cleared.” fully investigated.”
Source: The Times of Israel.
