IDF soldier hospitalized after beating by officer

The Israel Defense Forces has dismissed a platoon commander in the Golani infantry brigade for beating a soldier under his command last week, after which the soldier was hospitalized, it emerged Sunday.

The officer hit the soldier during a lesson in Krav Maga, the form of martial arts taught to IDF troops, causing him to suffer bodily harm and internal bleeding.

After the soldier was released for a furlough over the weekend, his father noticed signs of the beating; he subsequently took him to the Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot for treatment.

In addition to the dismissal of the officer, military police have launched an investigation into the incident.

The IDF Spokespersons' Unit said the incident was grave and irregular, and that it was not in keeping with the values of the army and Golani.

"We will do everything we can to prevent the recurrence of such events in the future," the army said in a statement.

News of last week's incident comes after the army has been recently rocked by a number of similar stories of abuse.