MKs, rioters break in at Sde Teiman, Motta Gur bases in protest of detention of IDF reservists

After protesters were cleared from Sde Teiman, demonstrators arrived at the Motta Gur base in Beit Lid and breached the base.

Among these demonstrators is Likud MK Tali Gottlieb, who used her X account to promote the demonstration. There are now about 70 to 100 protesters at this location, Maariv reported. 

This base is where the investigation of the eight reserve soldiers suspected of committing the offenses is occurring. 

The rioters are protesting the detention of IDF reservists by the criminal investigation division for the alleged abuse of a Nukhba terrorist who was initially detained at Sde Teiman.

MKs, including Zvi Sukkot and Nissim Vaturi, broke through the fence Monday afternoon at the Sde Teiman facility along with rioters after the suspects were detained for sexual abuse of a Nukhba terrorist. 

בפעם הראשונה כנראה בחייו המשתמט צבי סוכות בבסיס צה"ל.הגיע להמריד ולפרק את צבא העם. pic.twitter.com/DE1ta0VNYR

— yayafink (יאיא פינק) (@yayafink) July 29, 2024

"I call for an immediate de-escalation of the situation in Sde Teiman and strongly condemn the breach into an IDF base," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the incident. 

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, "Even in times of anger, the laws apply to everyone. One does not storm IDF bases or violate the laws of the state of Israel." 

The rioters at Sde Teiman chanted "Death to terrorists" and "Death to the court."

MK Zvi Sukkot, who was originally barred from entering, was able to enter through a narrow opening in the fence. 

Some of the protesters who crossed the facility's fence, including MK Nissim Vaturi, are confronting the soldiers and officers who are trying to escort them out of the base, Army Radio military correspondent Doron Kadosh reported on X, formerly Twitter.

Due to this incident, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will hold a confidential discussion, to which the Military Police Commander was invited.

Members of the IDF and the police are stopping the breach of the Sde Teiman facility by Israeli civilians, the IDF said in a statement. 

"The breach of the Sde Teiman facility is very serious and illegal. The storming of a military base and the disruption of order at the site are severe behaviors that are unacceptable in any way. We are at war, and such actions endanger the security of the state. I strongly condemn the incident, and we are working to restore order at the base," IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said in a statement.

"I fully support the military prosecution and the military police in their investigation of every incident brought to their attention. This is their duty, regardless of rank or position. It is precisely these investigations that protect our soldiers at home and abroad and uphold IDF values. These investigations are conducted with respect for our soldiers, whom we command," Halevi concluded.

Politicians respond to the incident

"We condemn the violence against MK Zvi Sukkot and the illegal attempt to prevent an elected official from entering the scene to carry out his parliamentary duties," Religious Zionism said in a statement in response to the barring of the MK from the prison facility.

The party condemned the IDF Chief Military Prosecutor and the Military Advocate general for "crossing the line." 

"It is time to stop tying the hands of our soldiers and to win!" the statement concluded. 

Opposition Leader and Yesh Atid Head Yair Lapid commented on MK Sukkot's break-in, calling it a "despicable and dangerous crime by MKs who weaken and dismantle the IDF and the state of Israel, and gnaw away the foundations of our power from the inside."

He added, "The politicians who abandoned the hostages, abandoned security, and destroyed society are now destroying the chain of command and sanctifying lawlessness and crime." 

The Movement for Quality Government (MQG) in Israel condemned politicians bypassing the fence at the detention facility and called their behavior "acts that have no place in a democratic country."

"The events taking place at the Sde Teiman base are a serious violation of the rule of law and of the most basic principles of democracy. Breaking into a military base and attempting to interfere in proper investigation procedures, especially by elected officials, are acts that have no place in a democratic country," the statement read.

"We call on the attorney general to immediately start an investigation of all those involved in these events, including the members of the Knesset and the ministers who took part in them," MQG said. 

Officials from the criminal investigation division detained several reserve soldiers for questioning on Monday on suspicion that they abused a terrorist detained at the facility.