 "Israeli military’s top lawyer resigns after leak of video allegedly showing abuse of Palestinian detainee")
Israel’s Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, stepped down on Friday after acknowledging she had authorised the release of surveillance footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility. The video, which surfaced last year, appeared to show Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee.
Tomer-Yerushalmi, who had been on leave since the police launched a criminal investigation into the leak earlier this week, submitted her resignation to IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir. During their meeting, she accepted full responsibility for the leak, confirming she had approved the release of the footage to counter what she described as “false propaganda” against the military’s law enforcement bodies.
In her resignation letter, she wrote, “I bear full responsibility for any material that was released to the media from within the unit,” adding that this responsibility led her to end her tenure as military advocate general.
Investigation and fallout
Defence Minister Israel Katz said before the announcement that Tomer-Yerushalmi would be dismissed, though it remained unclear if he had the authority to do so. Following her resignation, Katz stated that “anyone who spreads blood libels against IDF soldiers is not worthy of wearing the IDF uniform.”
The military confirmed that Zamir accepted her resignation immediately and would work to stabilise the office and safeguard IDF soldiers. Katz later announced plans to appoint an acting advocate general and initiate the process of selecting a permanent replacement.
The investigation into the leak began after an officer in the Military Advocate General’s office reportedly failed a Shin Bet polygraph test. Findings from the test led to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara authorising a full criminal inquiry.
The leaked footage, broadcast by Channel 12 in August 2024, showed soldiers surrounding a detainee with riot shields and allegedly abusing him while blocking visibility. The detainee was later treated for severe injuries, and five reserve soldiers were subsequently indicted earlier this year in connection with the incident.
Quick Reads
View AllAuthorities are examining whether Tomer-Yerushalmi ordered the leak directly. She later confirmed in her resignation letter that she was responsible for the video’s release.
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