TEL AVIV - A series of videos have emerged on social media allegedly showing Israeli soldiers mistreating and abusing bound and blindfolded Palestinian detainees. The footage, which has garnered attention and concern, has prompted investigations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into the incidents.

The videos, initially found on the social media platform X and reviewed by NBC News, depict several distressing scenes. In one video, Palestinian detainees can be seen lying on the ground naked, while in another, a man is kicked in the stomach and spat on as he kneels.

The most disturbing scene showcases soldiers surrounding a group of blindfolded Palestinian men with their hands tied behind their backs. The detainees, many of whom are shirtless or completely naked, are subjected to a soldier stomping on one man's head while he cries out for his mother in Arabic. Eventually, the man is dragged away, screaming.

Although the authenticity and origins of the footage remain unverified, the uniforms worn by the soldiers appear to be consistent with those of the IDF. In response to inquiries, the IDF acknowledged being aware of at least two incidents captured in the videos and stated that disciplinary actions would be taken accordingly. The IDF also expressed that the conduct displayed in the footage is "deplorable" and goes against their orders.

The circumstances surrounding when and where the videos were filmed, as well as the events leading up to and following them, remain unknown. However, media outlets such as The Times of Israel and Ynet have reported that the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees may have occurred in the occupied West Bank or near the Gaza Strip.

The release of these videos has reignited concerns about the conduct of Israel's military forces. Israel, as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, is obligated to adhere to regulations regarding the humane treatment of detainees during armed conflicts. These regulations explicitly prohibit any form of humiliating or degrading treatment.

The videos come at a time when tensions in the region are already heightened. The occupied West Bank has seen increased arrests of Palestinians and escalating violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents since the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel and subsequent Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Prisoners Club has reported that the IDF has detained 1,830 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The IDF, when questioned about the high number of arrests, stated that they have been engaged in "intensive counterterrorism activity" based on intelligence information. They further revealed that 550 terror attacks were carried out towards Israeli civilians and security forces, with over 1,200 suspects apprehended, including 742 belonging to Hamas.

Reports from the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry indicate that since October 7, 136 Palestinians have been killed and 1,940 wounded in the West Bank as a result of IDF and settler attacks. However, it is important to note that clashes in the region have been an ongoing issue even before the recent conflict, with violence in the West Bank reaching its highest levels in nearly two decades, according to the United Nations.

As investigations into the credibility and context of the videos continue, their release has heightened concerns about the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the Israeli military's adherence to international regulations. The IDF's promise of disciplinary action reflects efforts to address the situation and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.