Key Takeaways
- Israel’s top military prosecutor resigned after admitting she leaked a video showing soldiers assaulting a Palestinian detainee
- The video from Sde Teiman detention facility showed alleged sodomy of a Gaza detainee
- The prosecutor faced intense criticism from right-wing politicians who called her actions a betrayal
- Defense Minister confirmed she won’t be reinstated and investigations into the leak continue
Israel’s Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned on Friday, publicly admitting she was responsible for leaking a controversial video that showed Israeli soldiers assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility.
The admission sparked immediate backlash from right-wing politicians dominating Israeli politics, who accused her of betraying the state. The incident highlights the intense political pressure on military officials amid Israel’s far-right political climate.
The Leaked Video and Investigation
The video, aired last year by Israel’s Channel 12, purported to show soldiers at the Sde Teiman facility in southern Israel sodomizing a Palestinian detainee from Gaza. At the time, the military was already investigating the case and had arrested soldiers for suspected involvement.
The arrests had prompted fury from hard-line ultranationalists, who violently overran the detention facility in protest.
Prosecutor’s Defense
In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi explained she leaked the video to counter criticism that the military was prioritizing Palestinian detainees over Israeli troops.
“The military had a duty to investigate when there is reasonable suspicion of violence against a detainee,” she wrote according to media excerpts.
“Unfortunately, this basic understanding — that there are actions which must never be taken even against the vilest of detainees — no longer convinces everyone.”
Political Fallout
Defense Minister Israel Katz and numerous Israeli politicians condemned Tomer-Yerushalmi following her resignation. Katz confirmed she would not be reinstated and said investigations would continue into those involved in the decision to leak the video.
Broader Context of Detainee Treatment
Throughout the war, rights groups have characterized Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees from Gaza — particularly at Sde Teiman — as abusive. Detainees have been rounded up en masse and held for months without charge or trial.
Many released detainees have reported frequent beatings by prison guards, insufficient food, and terrible conditions at detention facilities.
