Right-wing Israeli protestors stormed two military compounds on Monday where soldiers were being held for questioning over suspected abuse of a Palestinian prisoner.
Israel's military chief described the protestors forcing their way into the compounds as "unlawful behaviours bordering on anarchy".
Small crowds of protesters forced their way into the Sde Teiman military detention center in southern Israel.The scuffle broke out when military police officers arrived at the base in southern Israel to question the soldiers as part of their investigation.
Army Radio reported they had come to question ten reserve soldiers suspected of abusing a prisoner captured from an elite unit of the Hamas group.
The military police were met with dozens of protesters who had arrived in support of the troops.
Israeli television channels captured the moment they forced open a gate and invaded the base. Protestors later dispersed.
Later in the day, a crowd also gathered at the Beit Lid military compound in northern Israel. A number of people broke into a military court there before police and soldiers pushed them back out, police said in a statement.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the break-ins, while Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said: "Even in difficult times, the law applies to everyone – nobody may trespass into IDF bases.”
Military chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said: "We are in the midst of a war, and actions of this type endanger the security of the state. It is precisely these investigations that protect our soldiers in Israel and the world and preserve IDF values."
Israel has detained thousands of Palestinians since the October 7 Hamas attack that triggered its ground and air assault on Gaza.
