12 Hours of Chaos in Israel “Saved” Hezbollah from a Potential Strike
Israel experienced 12 hours of chaos yesterday following the intrusion of far-right activists into a military base where Palestinian prisoners from Gaza are held.
For 12 hours, Israel was immersed in turmoil while television networks broadcast live from the scene, which had turned into a detention center for Gaza Palestinians, following the ongoing war since October 7.
According to the American site “Axios,” these events caused Israeli military leaders to shift their focus from preparing for a potential strike against Hezbollah, which could ignite a war on another front, to protecting their base from internal disturbances.
These incidents are likely to deepen divisions within Israeli society and weaken its army amid the war in Gaza and a dramatic escalation with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
These events, which were encouraged by far-right MPs in the ruling coalition, are seen as the most serious acts of political violence in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, and could exacerbate the internal crisis that has plagued the country since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed his government in 2022.
How Did the Intrusion Events Begin?
The events began when the Israeli military police arrested nine reserve soldiers who had served in the “Force 100” unit at the “Sde Teiman” military base on Monday.
“Sde Teiman” had become a detention center where Israel holds Gaza prisoners, with Western reports detailing various forms of torture experienced by detainees in the camp, which some human rights organizations have labeled “Guantanamo Israel.”
According to the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz,” more than 30 detainees have died in the detention center since October 7.
As a result, military police investigations were launched into the actions of the nine reserve soldiers after one of the Palestinian detainees was transferred to the hospital due to a bleeding incident, according to Israeli media.
Israeli media reported that the reserve soldiers were detained in connection with prisoner abuse, including sexual assault and rape.
When the military police unit arrived at the base, they were confronted by many reserve soldiers who refused to attend interrogation.
After initial reports and videos of the military police raid were posted on social media, far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and other ministers from Netanyahu’s Likud party issued statements condemning the detention of the soldiers.
They claimed that senior Israeli military leaders had humiliated the soldiers and informed their supporters that they were coming to the base in southern Israel to protest the arrests.
Shortly after, hundreds of protesters arrived at the base, including many lawmakers from Ben Gvir and Smotrich’s parties, and stormed the base where Gaza prisoners are held before leaving after several hours when it became clear that the detained reserve soldiers were no longer there.
Another Base
The protesters then moved to another military base 30 minutes north of Tel Aviv, which hosts the military police headquarters, a detention center, and a military court.
They stormed the court and attempted to breach the detention center to release the reserve soldiers.
Many members of the unit to which the reserve soldiers belonged joined the protesters, wearing military uniforms, armed, and wearing face masks.
The police, under the authority of Minister Ben Gvir, were relatively passive during the riots and did not arrest any of the protesters at the two bases, according to military officials.
Did the Events Save Hezbollah?
The army said that Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi canceled meetings he was attending on Monday night regarding a potential strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon and arrived at the military police headquarters, which was surrounded by protesters.
When Halevi arrived at the base, many protesters chanted slogans against him and called for his resignation.
The army also said it had to call in combat units stationed near the West Bank to protect the military police base before the protesters left the area around midnight local time.
Netanyahu did not comment on these events, except for a one-line statement issued by his office two hours after the first base was stormed, in which he condemned the intrusion and called for immediate calm.
Only two ministers, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, condemned the events, while the rest of the government ministers either supported the reserve soldiers and criticized the military prosecutor or remained silent.
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The chaotic incidents highlight the audacity of far-right extremists in Israel under Netanyahu’s governments, especially after October 7, according to “Axios.”
They also signal the fragmentation of the chain of command within the Israeli military and its internal order, encouraged by far-right politicians.
