Israeli authorities have arrested former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, officials confirmed on Monday, November 3, following the uproar over a leaked video allegedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee.
Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest comes after a turbulent weekend in which she resigned and was briefly declared missing on Sunday, November 2 — sparking widespread speculation in the Israeli press about a possible suicide attempt.
In her resignation letter, published Friday, she acknowledged that her office had released the controversial footage last year. The video, recorded at the Sde Teiman military base, appeared to show soldiers mistreating a Palestinian detainee captured during the Gaza war.
The leak led to charges in 2024 against five reservists accused of carrying out “severe violence,” including stabbing the detainee near the rectum with a sharp object. Prosecutors said the assault caused serious injuries such as cracked ribs, a punctured lung, and an internal tear.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confirmed Tomer-Yerushalmi’s detention on Telegram, saying the prison service had been instructed to take “extra precautions” regarding her safety. He also called for a meticulous investigation to “uncover the full truth” behind what he described as a “blood libel” against IDF soldiers.
Israeli media reported that a Tel Aviv court ordered her held until Wednesday at noon on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and leaking classified information. Another official in the military prosecution is reportedly under investigation.
The Israeli army has acknowledged her resignation and confirmed that a probe into the leaked video is underway. Channel 12 first aired the footage in August 2024, revealing scenes from the Sde Teiman detention site used for Palestinians captured during the conflict.
Although the abuse itself was not visible, the soldiers were seen obscuring the acts from the camera — sparking international criticism and domestic protests over detainee treatment amid the Gaza war that followed Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
In February 2025, the Israeli military said it had compiled extensive evidence, including surveillance footage and medical reports, to support the charges against the five soldiers. According to investigators, the assault occurred on July 5, 2024, when the handcuffed, blindfolded detainee was isolated and attacked during a search operation.
Following Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest, Channel 12 reported that police suspect she may have staged her disappearance to dispose of her phone, which could hold sensitive material. Some reports indicated she left a note that might be interpreted as a suicide message.
The case has reignited global scrutiny of Israel’s detention practices. A UN commission report published in October 2024 alleged “widespread and systematic abuse” of thousands of detainees in military facilities, labelling the actions “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Israel rejected the findings as “outrageous,” insisting it adheres to international standards for detainee treatment.
Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest has amplified ongoing debates within Israel over accountability, ethics, and the military’s public image amid the continuing conflict in Gaza.
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