Former Israeli military chief lawyer Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi has been arrested amid a widening political and legal controversy over a leaked video allegedly showing severe abuse of a Palestinian detainee by Israeli soldiers.
Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned last week as Military Advocate General of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), taking responsibility for the release of the footage. Police launched a criminal investigation into the leak, prompting her temporary leave and subsequent resignation.
The video, broadcast in August 2024, shows reservists at the Sde Teiman base allegedly beating a detainee and inflicting serious injuries with a sharp object while shielding him from view. Five reservists have been charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm; they deny the allegations.
The detainee was released to Gaza in October in a prisoner exchange with Hamas, following hostages held by the group since 7 October 2023.
Following her resignation, Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned her actions, stating anyone who spreads “blood libels” against the IDF is unfit to serve. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as “perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment.”
Hours after the resignation, Tomer-Yerushalmi was reported missing on a beach north of Tel Aviv. A massive search ensued, and she was later found safe. She and former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomosh were taken into custody overnight on suspicion of leaking classified material.
The Sde Teiman incident has deepened political divisions in Israel. Right-wing factions denounce the leak as defamation of the IDF, while left-leaning voices view it as evidence of systemic abuse, citing a UN report alleging widespread mistreatment of Palestinian detainees since the Hamas attacks in October 2023.
Israel maintains it is committed to international legal standards and investigates all complaints, rejecting allegations of widespread torture and abuse.
Erizia Rubyjeana
About the Author
