Israeli authorities have arrested Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, a former top military prosecutor, after she allegedly leaked a disturbing video showing Israeli soldiers physically abusing a Palestinian detainee. The footage, which emerged last year and has since sparked international outrage, appears to document acts of violence at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel, where Palestinian prisoners from Gaza have been held amid ongoing conflict.

The case has ignited political upheaval within Israel, highlighting deep ethical and legal fissures at the heart of its military and intelligence operations.

🔍 Who Is Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi?

Once responsible for overseeing legal matters involving the Israeli army, Tomer-Yerushalmi found herself at the centre of a national scandal after it was revealed that she had allegedly approved the release of video evidence showing detainee abuse.

• According to Israeli media, she formally resigned on Friday, acknowledging her office had “released the video” to the press.
• Shortly after her resignation, she vanished for several hours on Sunday, raising concerns of a potential suicide attempt.
• She was eventually located and arrested overnight on Monday.

A court in Tel Aviv has reportedly ordered her remand in custody until Wednesday, claiming she is suspected of “fraud, breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and disclosure of classified information.”

📽️ The Video That Sparked Outcry

The leaked surveillance footage, first broadcast in August 2024 on Israel’s Channel 12, was captured at Sde Teiman, a military facility where Palestinian detainees have been held since Israel’s 2023 escalation in Gaza. While the video didn’t show explicit acts, it strongly suggested physical abuse was taking place behind soldiers using shields to block full visibility.

• In February, five Israeli reservists were charged with “severe violence”, including allegedly stabbing a Palestinian prisoner with a sharp object, resulting in a punctured lung, cracked ribs, and an internal rectal tear.
• The incident occurred during a search operation on July 5, 2024, according to the indictment.

Despite this, the focus in Israel has largely shifted toward the implications of the leak, not the abuse itself.

⚖️ Political Fallout and International Reactions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the leak as possibly “the most severe public relations attack” on Israel since its founding in 1948.

Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said the arrest was necessary to protect the integrity and “security” of the state, noting that extra precautions are being taken to ensure Tomer-Yerushalmi’s safety while in custody.

Reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, journalist Nour Odeh points out that:

“There is so much focus on the leak—far less on the crime it exposed. That spotlight-shifting itself is a political tool.”

The United Nations has stated for months that abuse of Palestinian detainees is “systemic,” but news of Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest risks further obscuring accountability.

🚨 A History of Abuse in Israeli Prisons

The UN reports that at least 75 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody since October 7, 2023. Many returned bodies show signs consistent with torture, including:

• Handcuffs and blindfolds still in place
• Burn marks, missing teeth or limbs
• Evidence of sharp force trauma

This recent case only adds to the mounting global pressure on Israel to investigate and end unlawful treatment of Palestinian prisoners.

🧭 What’s Next?

The case is now poised to test Israel’s judiciary and its ability to hold both perpetrators and whistleblowers accountable. Former chief military prosecutor Colonel Matan Solomesh has also been arrested in connection with the case.

Calls are escalating from human rights organizations for full transparency not just in prosecuting the leak but in addressing the systemic violence it uncovered — a step many say is critical for any long-term peace process.