The former top lawyer of the Israeli military has been arrested following the leak of a video allegedly showing severe abuse of a Palestinian detainee by soldiers. Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who recently resigned as the Military Advocate General of the Israel Defence Forces, was taken into custody after an intense political and public backlash surrounding the footage.
The controversy began after a video broadcast in 2024 showed Israeli reserve soldiers at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel assaulting a detainee. The soldiers were seen surrounding the man with riot shields before allegedly beating and stabbing him with a sharp object. The detainee suffered serious injuries and was later treated in hospital. Five reservists were charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm, charges they have denied.
The leaked footage reignited deep political divisions in Israel. Right-wing factions condemned the release as a betrayal of the military, arguing it damaged Israel’s global reputation. Far-right protesters and several lawmakers rallied in support of the accused soldiers, claiming the case was fabricated. In contrast, human rights advocates and members of the political left praised the leak, viewing it as vital evidence of ongoing abuse against Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
General Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted approving the release of material to the media, explaining it was meant to counter false propaganda and defend the army’s law enforcement system. In her resignation letter, she accepted full responsibility for the leak, emphasizing the army’s duty to investigate credible suspicions of violence against detainees.
The situation escalated when she was reported missing shortly after resigning, prompting a police search near Herzliya beach. She was later found safe but was arrested alongside former chief military prosecutor Colonel Matan Solomosh on suspicion of involvement in the leak.
Government officials, including the defense minister and prime minister, harshly criticized her actions, calling the incident a major blow to Israel’s image. Meanwhile, international observers have drawn parallels between the leaked footage and previous reports accusing Israel of mistreating Palestinian detainees, allegations that the government continues to deny.
The case remains under investigation, deepening the rift between those demanding accountability for abuses and those defending the military’s reputation.
