IDF revises policy to expand protections of soldiers accused of sexual harassment, assault
Soldiers accused of sexual harassment will gain new rights during IDF inquiries, including access to allegations and evidence and the ability to indirectly question complainants.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has revised its policy to better protect soldiers accused of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in cases that do not warrant criminal prosecution. This new policy, first reported by Ynet and subsequently verified by The Jerusalem Post, aims to provide suspects with greater rights and information regarding allegations against them.
The policy specifically applies to cases referred to the IDF Chief of Staff's Gender Affairs Advisor when no criminal investigation is initiated. If a complainant opts not to file a complaint, or if the allegations do not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution, an internal inquiry is conducted by the Gender Affairs Advisor's Unit.
According to IDF data, only 10% of over 2,420 reports of sexual assault and harassment were investigated by the Military Police or the Israeli Police in 2025, while 59% were handled through disciplinary and command channels. The remaining cases were either inconclusive or not pursued due to external circumstances or withdrawal by the victim.
The Military Defense Counsel had previously petitioned the High Court of Justice to revise these procedures, arguing that they violated the rights of the accused, who were not given sufficient means to defend themselves and could be at risk of false complaints or suspension, dismissal, or termination of their military careers. The revised procedures now include providing respondents with a general description of allegations, an explanation of the process, their rights, and a copy of the full procedures.
Respondents will also receive allegations and supporting evidence with as much detail as possible, including either the original complaint or a summary if the victim does not consent to its sharing. All evidence collected during the inquiry will be forwarded to the alleged victim or the complainant's commander, and the accused will receive a summary of the findings.
Brief written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
