The Israel Security Agency had knowledge of incidents of sexual abuse in the Gilboa Prison and did not pursue the issue, local media reported Wednesday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The investigation into the September 2021 escape of six high-profile terrorists from the maximum security prison in northern Israel revealed that in 2018, female soldiers who were assigned to Gilboa as wardens were "pimped out" to inmates while their superiors turned a blind eye to "keep the peace" inside the prison.
Last week, another victim came forward, saying she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a high-profile terrorist at Gilboa Prison.
What is being done while the government continues its investigation?
Diplomatic correspondent @mcauliffe_marym joins host @SarahChlala to discuss the measures being put in place as Israel places a ban on female soldiers guarding Palestinian security prisoners pic.twitter.com/gIxMDjhREh
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) August 2, 2022
Citing an IPS source, Ynet alleged Wednesday that the Shin Bet had several meetings with the inmate suspected of assaulting several female wardens. Last week, the court lifted the gag order placed on his identity, naming him as Mahmoud Atallah, a Palestinian terrorist serving a life sentence over the 2003 murder of a Ramallah woman suspected of collaborating with Israel.
When the allegations of rape first surfaced in 2018, Atallah was placed in solitary confinement – a measure that is still in place. According to Wednesday's report, he met with Shin Bet and IPS officials two years ago in a bid to have the sexual assault charges removed from the case against him despite admitting to them.
The conversation was documented by the IPS but was never mentioned in the Shin Bet's official report.
The Shin Bet denied the allegations, saying, "Contrary to the claims, during the meetings with the prisoner, no information on the incident was provided. When Atallah requested the Shin Bet's assistance on criminal matters, it was made clear to him the agency won't take part in that. No further meeting were held."
Earlier on Monday, a Gilboa Prison officer, who served as a commander during the time of the alleged sexual assaults, was questioned by the police as part of the investigation launched into the matter.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday that he plans to bar the service of female soldiers in the Israel Prison Service.
As part of the IDF's collaboration with other security forces, soldiers are routinely embedded with the Border Police, Israel Police and the IPS as part of their mandatory service, but as the scope of the pimping scandal at Gilboa Prison continued to unfold, the defense minister vowed to "spare no effort to ensure the safety of all IDF personnel, regardless of where they serve,"
In a letter to Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, Gantz demanded he immediately pull all the female soldiers serving with the IPS out of facilities holding security prisoners, saying the practice of embedding soldiers with the Prison Service should be suspended pending a "full and comprehensive investigation of the case."
Barlev, for his part, issued a statement on Wednesday saying the move required a legislation amendment and that until the legal changes are in place, Israeli soldiers will continue their service with the IPS.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
