Israel Redeploys Military Battalion That Assaulted, Detained CNN Team After One-Month Suspension

An Israeli military reserve unit, the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion, has been redeployed to operational activities after a one-month suspension. This decision follows an incident on March 30 where soldiers from the battalion detained and assaulted a CNN team covering settler violence in the occupied West Bank village of Tayasir. The suspension, initiated by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, was described as unprecedented and included an education seminar and additional training for the unit.

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The reserve unit, which functions under the ultra-Orthodox “Netzah Yehuda” battalion, underwent an education seminar and additional training, the source said.

The incident involved the physical assault of CNN photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, who was placed in a chokehold and brought to the ground, resulting in damage to his camera. The IDF acknowledged the event as a "serious ethical and professional failure" and stated that the unit would undergo training to reinforce its professional and ethical foundations. The Central Command was tasked with determining when the battalion could return to duty.

While the military police investigation into the assault on Theophilos is ongoing, no specific disciplinary measures against the individual soldier involved have been publicly announced. Separately, the Internal Investigations Department of the Israel Police is investigating an earlier incident where an officer allegedly broke the wrist of CNN senior producer Abeer Salman during Ramadan prayers outside Jerusalem's Old City. The police's initial statement regarding that incident, which claimed the journalists refused to comply with instructions, was disputed by the Union of Journalists in Israel.

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On March 30, soldiers from the battalion detained a CNN team covering settler violence in the village of Tayasir in the West Bank.

From an Israeli perspective, the swift suspension and subsequent retraining of the Netzah Yehuda battalion demonstrate a commitment to upholding professional standards within the IDF, even when dealing with reserve units. While the media, particularly international outlets like CNN, may focus on the assault and detention, the Israeli narrative emphasizes the disciplinary process and the reinforcement of ethical conduct. The redeployment signifies that the unit has met the required standards following its period of reflection and retraining, allowing it to resume its duties. This approach balances accountability with the operational needs of the military, reflecting a complex reality on the ground.

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The IDF called the incident a “serious ethical and professional failure.”