TEL AVIV, Israel (FN) — Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the former top legal officer of the Israel Defense Forces, has been arrested following the leak of a video allegedly showing the abuse of a Palestinian detainee by Israeli soldiers. Her detention marks a dramatic escalation in a case that has polarized Israeli society and drawn international scrutiny.
Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned last week, acknowledging she had authorized the release of the footage. In her resignation letter, she said the decision was made to counter what she described as false narratives undermining the military’s legal system. She emphasized the importance of investigating credible allegations of violence against detainees.
The video, aired in August 2024 by an Israeli news outlet, reportedly shows reservists at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel surrounding a detainee with riot shields before allegedly beating and stabbing him with a sharp object. The detainee was later hospitalized with severe injuries.
Five reservists were charged with aggravated abuse and causing bodily harm. They denied the accusations and appeared masked at a press conference outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, where their lawyers called for the dismissal of the case. Adi Keidar, representing the accused, criticized the legal process as biased and politically motivated.
The detainee at the center of the case was released to Gaza in October as part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. The swap involved convicted prisoners and detainees held without charge in exchange for hostages taken during the 7th of October 2023 attacks.
Following the leak, Israeli authorities launched a criminal investigation. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Tomer-Yerushalmi would not be reinstated, prompting her resignation. Shortly after, she was reported missing, triggering a search operation along the Herzliya coastline. Police later found her safe and took her into custody.
Authorities later confirmed the arrest of two individuals linked to the leak: Tomer-Yerushalmi and former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomosh. Both face charges related to unauthorized disclosure and other serious offenses.
The Sde Teiman case has deepened political divisions in Israel. Right-wing figures have condemned the leak as a betrayal of the military, while left-leaning voices view the video as critical evidence of systemic abuse. The footage has reignited debate over the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
A 2023 report by a United Nations commission alleged widespread abuse of detainees from Gaza, including acts amounting to torture and sexual violence. Israel rejected the findings, asserting its commitment to international legal standards and claiming to have investigated all complaints thoroughly.
The incident has become a flashpoint in Israel’s internal struggle over accountability, military conduct, and the boundaries of transparency in wartime. As investigations continue, the case is likely to remain a defining moment in the country’s legal and political discourse.
