Israeli soldiers have regularly uploaded videos showing the detention of Palestinians on social media [Getty]
Israeli soldiers continue to upload footage of Palestinian detainees in the occupied West Bank to social media, potentially violating international law.
At least 45 videos and photos were posted on social media by 11 soldiers from the Israeli army’s Kfir Brigade, which operates in the occupied West Bank, showing abuses against Palestinian detainees during military raids on homes.
This footage shows Israeli soldiers placing Palestinians in stress positions, ordering them to say demeaning phrases, and holding aloft the Israeli flag.
The BBC analysed the footage and found that 22 of the videos and photos were posted by an Israeli soldier under the name Yohai Vazana on Facebook and TikTok, including a video of his unit forcefully entering a Palestinian home and posing with a mother and child.
Another soldier, using the name Sammy Ben, posted eight videos and a photo of Palestinian detainees on Instagram, in which many are blindfolded and restrained.
In one video, Sammy Ben orders two Palestinian detainees to say “Am Yisrael Chai”, which translates to “The people of Israel live”.
None of the Israeli soldiers identified in the videos responded to requests for comment from the BBC.
Under international law, detainees must not be exposed to unnecessary humiliation or public curiosity.
Experts on the subject said the footage could violate international law, the BBC said.
The Israeli army claimed that soldiers have been disciplined or suspended for “unacceptable behaviour” although it did not comment on specific incidents.
Earlier this year, the Israeli army said it would act on other cases of abuse.
Since 7 October, Israeli soldiers have been posed hundreds of photos and footage of activities in Gaza and the West Bank, some potentially breaking international law, where military operations have killed 35,303 Palestinians.
In December, dozens of Palestinian men were filmed being detained by Israeli forces in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, including Al-Araby Al-Jadeed journalist Diaa al-Khalout. Other images showed the group being taken in trucks to locations to be processed.
Al-Khalout was held in Israeli detention for 33 days and said he was subject to beatings and torture during that time, including by agents from Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet.
In March, Bellingcat analysed a number of videos and photos of detained Palestinians that had been uploaded by Israeli soldiers in both the occupied West Bank and in Gaza, with experts telling the outlet that the footage could violate international law.