Israeli military suspends battalion involved in assaulting, detaining CNN crew in West Bank

Israeli Military Suspends Battalion for Involvement in CNN Crew Assault in West Bank

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced Monday that their chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has ordered the temporary halt of operations for a reserve battalion linked to the detention and attack of a CNN team in the West Bank. The unit, part of the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion, will be immediately pulled from the region and redirected to training until a final decision is made.

The incident occurred on Thursday in the Palestinian village of Tayasir, where settlers had set up an illegal outpost. CNN journalist Jeremy Diamond and his team were documenting the aftermath when soldiers intervened. One soldier used a chokehold on photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, forcing him to the ground and damaging his equipment. The military confirmed the action was taken as part of a swift disciplinary response.

Lt. Gen. Zamir’s move appears to be a rapid and comprehensive measure, which has drawn attention for its scale. It follows CNN’s report, which aired just 48 hours prior, highlighting concerns within Israel’s security apparatus about the rise in settler violence. The suspension also underscores growing internal debates about the IDF’s role in such incidents.

“The battalion will remain in reserve service and undergo a process to rebuild its professional and ethical standards,” the military stated. “Its return to active duty depends on the Commander of the Central Command.”

Additional penalties are expected for individual soldiers involved in the assault. The Netzah Yehuda battalion, originally designed to integrate ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF while preserving religious practices, has become a focal point for far-right settler groups. Members of organizations like the “Hilltop Youth” have increasingly aligned with its operations.

Earlier in 2024, the US administration had contemplated sanctions against Netzah Yehuda over alleged human rights abuses. However, the plan was abandoned after Israel claimed corrective steps had been implemented. During the confrontation, soldiers on camera asserted that the West Bank was “Jewish territory” and framed their actions as retaliation for an earlier settler killing.

One soldier, identified as Meir, admitted the Tayasir outpost was illegal but insisted it would be “slowly, slowly” legitimized with his support. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the suspension, calling it a “grave mistake that weakens our fighters and Israel’s deterrence.”

CNN’s coverage sparked widespread discussion in Israeli media, offering a rare spotlight on settler violence and the military’s association with it. Yair Golan, a former IDF deputy chief of staff and Democrats party leader, urged Zamir to “clearly state to his subordinates and the government: There is no ‘permitted’ terror. Terror is terror. And terror is dealt with an iron fist.”

The Israeli Journalists’ Union demanded full accountability for the soldiers who assaulted the crew. The disciplinary action came a day after military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani publicly apologized to CNN and pledged a thorough investigation into the event.