Female soldiers are no longer allowed to serve as prison guards in Israel after one guard is suspected to have had a sexual relationship with a prisoner, according to local media.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldier, who is completing her mandatory military service as a prison guard, is alleged to have with the prisoner over the past year.

She was suspected of being consensually physically involved with him, according to local media.

Shortly after reports of the relationship emerged, the Israel Prison Service (IPS) commander, Katy Perry, and National Security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, issued a joint statement saying that all female IDF soldiers would “immediately stop” serving as guards in security prisons.

A lawyer representing the soldier said she was threatened by the prisoner into a non-consensual relationship, however a senior police officer said this was not matched by evidence.

The inmate – who was convicted of involvement in a deadly terror attack in central Israel – allegedly had a mobile phone inside his cell he used to contact several female guards and exchange photos, the IPS reported.

A suspect questioned by police on Thursday said at least four other female guards, who are all nearing the end of their mandatory service, were involved in inappropriate contact with the inmate.

The precise location of the prison remains unknown.

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Ms Perry said that due to the “severe incident”, the IPS would “take all necessary steps and have zero tolerance for instances of [violating] moral values”.

She said that around 1,000 new guards have been recruited in order to replace the IDF female soldiers who will no longer be serving in prisons.

Mr Gvir has repeatedly pushed to stop female IDF soldiers working as prison officers in the past, but this has stalled due to a lack of staff.

But on Friday, he said the “horrifying report” proves the need to dismiss female soldiers from guarding convicted terrorists.

It comes after former defence minister, Benny Gantz, ordered an investigation last August after accusations that convicted terrorists had sexually assaulted and raped female soldiers.

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