Former Israeli Military Advocate General Arrested Over Leaked Detainee Abuse Video

Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who recently resigned as Israel's Military Advocate General, has been arrested following her admission to leaking a video that purportedly shows Israeli soldiers assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military detention center. The video, first broadcast by Israel's Channel 12 in August 2024, depicts soldiers leading a blindfolded detainee behind a wall of shields, obscuring the view of security cameras. Subsequent reports indicate the detainee suffered severe injuries, including fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi stated that she authorized the leak "in an attempt to counter false propaganda against law enforcement authorities in the army," emphasizing the military's duty to investigate credible allegations of detainee abuse.

The leak and ensuing investigation have sparked significant political controversy. Defense Minister Israel Katz criticized Tomer-Yerushalmi's actions, stating, "Anyone who spreads blood libels against IDF troops is unfit to wear the army's uniform." 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."

The case has also led to public unrest. Following the soldiers' arrests, far-right supporters, including members of parliament, stormed the Sde Teiman facility in protest.

Tomer-Yerushalmi's arrest underscores the ongoing tensions within Israel regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the military's internal accountability mechanisms.