Tel aviv: An Israeli military court has extended the detention of seven soldiers who are under investigation for allegations of abuse, threats, and sexual offenses against younger servicemembers within their unit. The decision was made following a court session on Wednesday, as reported by a local media outlet.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper disclosed that the detention of these soldiers, who are part of the Air Force's Arrow air defense system array, has been prolonged for an additional six days. They were initially detained on Tuesday due to suspicions related to the sexual abuse of their fellow soldiers.

The newspaper detailed that the alleged offenses occurred over the last six months and were part of "seniority games." These incidents reportedly included acts of sodomy and lasted for several weeks.

These developments arise amidst a backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza, where the Israeli army has been involved in military operations that have resulted in the deaths of nearly 57,700 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, since October 2023. The continuous bombardment has left the region in ruins, exacerbating food shortages and causing a spread of disease.

Additionally, in November of the previous year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.