IDF Confirms Photo Of Nearly Naked, Blindfolded Detainee Is Real; Inquiry Opened

Israel’s military has opened an inquiry after confirming the authenticity of a widely circulated photograph showing a stripped and blindfolded detainee restrained to a cot.

The Israel Defence Force (IDF) has opened an inquiry after confirming that a photograph showing a nearly naked, blindfolded detainee bound to a cot is authentic. The image circulated widely online after being highlighted by a Palestinian activist, prompting Israeli rights groups to argue that what it depicts — and the publication of the photograph itself — could amount to war crimes.

The photograph shows a man lying face down on a foldout cot, wearing only underpants, with his hands restrained behind his back. A cord appears to have been tied around his body and a makeshift metal-and-wood arrangement used to hold him against the cot; a Hebrew caption accompanying the image reads, “Good morning.” Who the detainee is remains unknown. It is also unclear whether he was detained in Gaza, the occupied West Bank or elsewhere, and the Israeli military has not publicly explained what happened to him after the photograph was taken.

“Following a thorough review, the incident in question has been identified,” the Israeli military said in a statement after questions were raised over the photograph. The IDF said the incident did not align with its “values and regulations”. It added that “an inquiry is underway, and those involved will be dealt with in accordance with the findings”.

The military has not disclosed where the photograph was taken or identified the unit allegedly involved. It has also not said how many soldiers are being examined, their ranks or what specific disciplinary or legal violations investigators are considering.

Those gaps are now central to the case. The IDF has authenticated the image and acknowledged conduct outside its stated rules, but has not publicly provided the circumstances leading to the detainee being restrained in that manner. The photograph was highlighted on X on June 30 by a Palestinian activist who uses the name Tamer. According to the activist, an Israeli soldier had originally uploaded the image before later deleting his account.

The photograph has revived scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees during the Gaza war. Thousands of Palestinians have been detained by Israel since the conflict began in 2023, with rights organisations documenting allegations of beatings, humiliation, inadequate food and medical treatment, and prolonged restrictions on contact with lawyers or relatives.

Israel has faced particular criticism over conditions at Sde Teiman, a military facility in southern Israel where many Palestinians detained in Gaza were initially taken for interrogation. Former detainees and rights groups have made repeated allegations of serious abuse at the site.

The Israeli military has repeatedly maintained that conduct departing from IDF rules is investigated. Rights groups, however, argue that the number of photographs and videos posted by soldiers during the Gaza war raises broader questions about discipline and accountability.

In a further statement on Thursday night, the IDF said it continued to identify cases in which soldiers allegedly departed from expected standards of conduct. “The IDF has acted and continues to act to identify unusual cases that deviate from what is expected of IDF soldiers,” the military said.

“Those cases will be arbitrated, and significant command measures will be taken against the soldiers involved,” it added. For now, the military has not identified the detainee in the photograph or disclosed his present condition. Nor has it announced whether criminal investigators are involved or whether any soldier has been suspended while the inquiry continues.