Female reservists in the Israel Defense Forces have refused to continue guarding captured militants at the Sde Teiman detention facility after reporting repeated sexual harassment and degrading treatment. According to a public broadcaster investigation, the women were assigned to guard members of an elite militant unit following the October 7 attack and described enduring explicit sexual behavior, lewd gestures, and humiliating stares during prolonged shifts.

The reservists said they were required to supervise detainees in intimate situations, including during showers and handcuff changes, without adequate separation or protection. Several reported severe emotional distress, recurring nightmares, and a lack of access to mental health support. Complaints to superiors were allegedly ignored, and one guard has since been hospitalized for long-term psychological care.

The controversy follows earlier criticism from the State Comptroller, who warned against assigning female soldiers to guard such prisoners and cited a 2022 report indicating that 38 percent of female prison guards had experienced sexual assault by security inmates. The new allegations have renewed scrutiny over the military’s policies and the protection of female personnel.