In an interview with Channel 14, members of the elite Israeli military unit Force 100 are breaking their silence following the arrest of their comrades, accused of abusing a Nuhkba detainee at the Beit Lid base.
"You feel that we've been betrayed," one Force 100 member said, "We don't have the confidence to carry out our missions anymore. It's as if our own system has turned against us."
The pain in their voices was palpable as another soldier addressed the accusations: "They've portrayed us as an extreme right-wing organization, an armed militia," he said, referencing comments made by Knesset member Yair Golan. "It's something that's simply not true. It's slander that cuts deep into our core values."
Frustration boiled over as they questioned the credibility of the allegations. "Is his word more credible than that of our soldiers? Are the cameras in the detention facility less reliable than this terrorist's word? It feels like our honor as soldiers means nothing."
They described a disturbing shift in dynamics. "The Nukhba prisoners are taunting the guards, saying that if our soldiers don't do what they ask, they'll file false complaints. It's demoralizing our entire unit."
As they defended their role and reputation, the strain was clear. "We're an elite unit," one member emphasized, "We intervene only in life-threatening riots. And now? Now we're being treated like criminals. Most of us have been serving since October 7th - We've seen horrors, we've protected our nation, and this is how we're repaid?"