‘Sexual abuse’ probe fuels tension between Israeli military and hard-liners

Right-wing Israelis, one holding a Palestinian scarf, at a protest outside of the initial hearing in military court for nine Israeli soldiers over what a defence lawyer said were allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian at a shadowy facility where Israel has held prisoners from Gaza during the war (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

An Israeli military court has opened an initial hearing for nine soldiers detained over what a defence lawyer said were allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian at a shadowy facility where Israel has held prisoners from Gaza during the war.

The investigation has stoked tensions between the military command and hard-line nationalists in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government who advocate an even harsher hand in Israel’s conduct of the 10-month-old war in Gaza.