Israeli court extends detention of 8 suspects in Hamas prisoner abuse case

An Israeli military court has extended the detention of eight suspects in the alleged abuse of a Hamas militant at the Sde Teman base, while two others have been released to house arrest, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

The court stated that evidence presented "establishes reasonable suspicion that the injury to the detainee occurred at the hands of the arrestees." The next hearing is scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 local time.

Two suspects in the sexual abuse of a Hamas militant were released to house arrest last night. One was released earlier, and another, who was reportedly present in the "second circle" of the event, was released after midnight under restrictive conditions.

According to IDF sources, the military police possess findings and medical reports indicating severe violence, which led to the militant's hospitalization. The suspects deny all allegations against them.

The military court has prohibited the publication of the suspects' details for two weeks, following a request from the military defense.

In a related development, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held a closed session to discuss the incidents. Criticism was raised about the manner of the arrests, particularly the use of masked Military Police investigators. The IDF acknowledged this as a mistake and called for a clarification of procedures, citing increased threats to investigators over the past year and concerns about their faces being photographed.

The investigation continues to draw attention in Israel, raising questions about military conduct and detention practices.

* Kann 11 News contributed to this article.