Israeli Military’s Ex-Top Lawyer Arrested Over Leaked Video Showing Alleged Palestinian Detainee Abuse
The former top lawyer of the Israeli military, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, has been arrested following the leak of a controversial video allegedly showing the abuse of a Palestinian detainee by Israeli soldiers.
Resignation Before Arrest
Gen. Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned last week from her post as the Military Advocate General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), accepting full responsibility for the video leak. Her sudden disappearance on Sunday sparked a nationwide search before police found her alive and later detained her for questioning.
The Leaked Video Scandal
The leaked video, broadcast in August 2024, reportedly shows Israeli reserve soldiers at the Sde Teiman military base surrounding a Palestinian detainee and assaulting him while blocking visibility with riot shields. The detainee was later treated for serious injuries, sparking national and international outrage.
Legal and Political Fallout
Five reservists were charged with aggravated abuse and serious bodily harm, though all have denied wrongdoing. Their defense lawyer, Adi Keidar from the right-wing group Honenu, accused the legal process of being “biased and politically motivated.”
The case has further polarized Israel’s political climate, with Defence Minister Israel Katz announcing that Tomer-Yerushalmi would not be reinstated. Shortly after, she formally resigned, stating:
“I approved the release of material to counter false propaganda against the army’s law enforcement authorities.”
Detainee Released in Prisoner Exchange
The Palestinian detainee at the center of the scandal was released to Gaza in October 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, which swapped detainees for Israeli hostages captured since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate who leaked the footage and whether the release was authorized. The incident has reignited debates about human rights violations and accountability within the Israeli military system.
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