Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the former Military Advocate General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), has been arrested following her resignation. Her arrest is connected to the leaking of a video that allegedly depicts the abuse of a Palestinian detainee. Tomer-Yerushalmi had admitted responsibility for authorizing the release of material to the media. Her arrest occurred after she was reported missing and subsequently located.
Arrest and Resignation
Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who previously served as the Military Advocate General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), has been taken into custody. This development follows her resignation on Friday, where she acknowledged her involvement in the leaking of a video. On Sunday, she was reported missing, leading to an hours-long search before she was found alive and subsequently arrested by police.
Details of the Leaked Video
The leaked video, broadcast in August 2024 on an Israeli news channel, allegedly shows reserve soldiers at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel. The footage depicts a detainee being taken aside and then surrounded by riot shields, blocking visibility, while he was allegedly beaten and stabbed in the rectum with a sharp object. The detainee later received treatment for severe injuries. Five reservists have been charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm in connection with the incident. They have denied the charges and have not been publicly named. On Sunday, four of these reservists, with their faces concealed, appeared at a news conference outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem alongside their lawyers, who called for the dismissal of their trial. Adi Keidar, a lawyer from the legal aid organization Honenu, stated his clients were subject to "a faulty, biased and completely cooked-up legal process."
Investigation and Official Responses
Last week, a criminal investigation was initiated into the leaking of the video. During this inquiry, Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi was placed on leave. On Friday, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that she would not be permitted to return to her post, which was followed by her resignation. In her resignation letter, Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi stated she took full responsibility for any material released to the media from her unit. She explained her actions, saying, "I approved the release of material to the media in an attempt to counter false propaganda against the army's law enforcement authorities," referring to claims by some right-wing political figures that allegations of abuse were fabricated. She added, "It is our duty to investigate whenever there is reasonable suspicion of acts of violence against a detainee." Following her resignation, Defence Minister Katz condemned her conduct, stating, "Anyone who spreads blood libels against IDF troops is unfit to wear the army's uniform." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these sentiments on Sunday, describing the Sde Teiman incident as "perhaps the most severe public relations attack that the State of Israel has experienced since its establishment." Subsequent to Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi being found after being reported missing, a police spokesperson announced overnight that two individuals had been arrested on suspicion of "leaking and other serious criminal offences" as part of the investigation. Israeli media identified the arrested individuals as Gen Tomer-Yerushalmi and Col Matan Solomosh, the former chief military prosecutor.