'I didn't believe that police could do such things'

Police officers said to beat, break nose and arrest Arab prosecutor over noise complaint

Police’s say that State Attorney’s Office lawyer attacked cops, but he and coworkers reject the claim; Department of Internal Police Investigations opens probe

Police officers reportedly attacked, arrested and broke the nose of an Arab Israeli government prosecutor last week alongside two of his relatives after entering their Beersheba apartment over a noise complaint.

The man, who works for the Southern District Attorney’s Office, has since had surgery to mend his broken nose. He also suffered injuries to one of his eyes and both kidneys, according to the Haaretz daily, which did not name the prosecutor in question.

Police accused the lawyer and his two relatives, who both work in medicine, of assaulting officers who arrived at the apartment, but he and his coworkers rejected the police’s version of events.

The Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI), which probes police officers on suspicion of criminal offenses, has launched an investigation into the incident.

The three men had all moved to Beersheba from the Galilee town of Deir al-Asad. Their lawyer, Tomer Gonen, told Haaretz that they had been sitting on the balcony and listening to music last Friday, May 1, when they noticed three police officers in civilian clothes had entered the house.

According to the outlet, one of the three cops lived nearby. The officers did not present them with a warrant, and so the three asked them to leave. The officers initially complied, but later that night arrived with backup.

Once the prosecutor caught a glimpse of a large group of police officers wearing helmets and masks outside the building, he called the police. The dispatcher instructed him not to open the door, but the officers soon burst into the house and violently detained the three, according to Haaretz.

The government prosecutor described the brutal arrest he experienced during his testimony in court, Haaretz reported.

“They stomped on my head, kicked me, told me that I’m ‘resisting arrest’ and cursed me. During the entire ride, they hit me and treated me like the worst of the criminals,” he said, noting that he appears in court each morning as part of his job. “I didn’t believe that police could do such things.”

The prosecutor’s father, Khalil Na’ameh, told the Nazareth-based Nas Radio station that police continued to beat his son in the car and at the station while their body cameras were turned off.

Police claimed that the lawyer and his two relatives attacked the officers first while they tried to deal with the noise complaint.

“The three men in the house started to lash out at them, resist their actions and push them, while refusing to obey officers’ instructions,” police said in a statement. “At a certain point… the officers were attacked by the suspects, and additional police forces were called to the scene.”

The three men were in custody for three days on suspicion of attacking police officers, Haaretz reported. While the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court ruled there was reasonable suspicion that they had used violence against the officers, it noted the prosecutor was also seriously injured.

According to Haaretz, the incident strained relations between the police and the Southern District Attorney’s Office, whose employees believe their coworker’s version of events.

“He is the last person you would think would behave violently,” said a Southern District prosecutor to Haaretz. “A man who is always proud to represent the country and be part of the State Attorney’s Office.”

The prosecutor’s father said the family plans to continue to pursue legal action against the officers who came to the house that night.

“Do you know what a source of pride it was to see my son’s name representing the State of Israel on the first indictment he filed? And now to see the police officers who work with him every day beating him, it was shattering,” he said.

MK Gilad Kariv of the left-wing Democrats party called on the police officers involved to be suspended.

“No citizen should look like this after an encounter with police,” he posted on X. “Especially when it comes to entering a private home without a warrant. Especially when it comes to a lawyer and public servant.”

He added, “More and more parts of the Israel Police are turning into a danger to the public instead of protecting it.” He blamed far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the police, for encouraging a “racist and violent spirit.”

Several DIPI investigations have been opened in recent months against police officers suspected of violence against Arab Israelis.

In one case from January, investigators launched a probe into several officers on suspicion of shooting a man dead during a midnight raid in Tarabin al-Sana, then destroying the evidence. The investigation is ongoing.

Another investigation deals with four National Guard officers suspected of assaulting a pair of Bedouin men during a random search in Tel Sheva.

Several DIPI investigations have been opened in recent months against police officers suspected of violence against Arab Israelis.

In one case from January, investigators launched a probe into several officers on suspicion of shooting a man dead during a midnight raid in Tarabin al-Sana, then destroying the evidence. The investigation is ongoing.