Israeli Military Suspends Battalion Involved In Assault Of Journalists In West Bank

Last Updated:March 30, 2026, 16:26 IST

IDF suspends reserve battalion after CNN journalist Cyril Theophilos is assaulted in West Bank probe and retraining ordered.

The Israeli military has suspended all operational activities of the reserve battalion that was involved in the detention and assault of journalists in the West Bank last week, according to an official statement on Monday.

CNN quoted a military official saying that the reserve battalion, which is comprised of hundreds of reservists who served in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion, will be immediately withdrawn from the West Bank and reassigned to training until further notice.

This comes days after CNN journalists were reportedly assaulted and detained by Israeli soldiers while they were covering a reported settler attack in the West Bank. According to CNN, the detained the team, after one of the soldiers placed CNN photojournalist Cyril Theophilos in a chokehold, bringing him to ground and damaging his camera.

Also Read: ‘Conduct Doesn’t Represent IDF’: Israel Orders Probe After Journalist Alleges Assault By Soldiers

The Israeli military has confirmed that the assault of Theophilos will be investigated by the military police.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the incident represented a “serious ethical and professional failure". It further said that the “standards of conduct and discipline demonstrated in the incident do not align with IDF values".

“Weapons are to be used solely for the purpose of carrying out the mission, and never for revenge. We will not accept such incidents within the ranks of the IDF," Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Israeli military chief of staff, said in the statement.

CNN quoted the military confirming that the battalion will undergo training “aimed at reinforcing its professional and ethical foundations" and that the Commander of Central Command would decide when they could resume operational activity.

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