Israel’s Top Military Lawyer Arrested After Leaking Video Of Soldiers’ Abuse

Israel’s Top Military Lawyer Arrested

Early Life and Career

Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi trained in law and rose through the ranks of the Israeli military legal system, and she became the military advocate general while maintaining a reputation for strict adherence to military legal procedures and oversight, but her career faced scrutiny after controversial decisions during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Key Investigations

Tomer-Yerushalmi launched investigations into serious abuse incidents at the Sde Teiman military detention centre, and she oversaw cases involving Palestinian detainees who suffered severe injuries, but her actions drew criticism from far-right politicians and military supporters who argued she undermined soldiers’ reputations.

Sde Teiman Incident

The Sde Teiman military detention centre became notorious for torture and extreme violence, and eleven soldiers were detained in July 2024 on suspicion of assaulting a Palestinian detainee, but public outrage and political pressure complicated the investigation and intensified calls for loyalty to the Israeli Defense Forces over accountability.

Video Leak and Arrest

Tomer-Yerushalmi leaked a video of the detainee abuse in August 2024, and she stated in her resignation letter that the leak aimed to protect military investigators from false propaganda, but she was arrested on charges of fraud, breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and disclosure of official information.

Political and Public Reactions

Far-right politicians and pundits labeled the detained soldiers as heroes and condemned military investigators as traitors, and mobs protested outside the detention centre, but the prime minister described the incident as a severe public relations attack on Israel and the IDF.

Legal and Ethical Implications

Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest raises questions about the rule of law in Israel and accountability for the abuse of Palestinians, and the lack of convictions for broader war crimes highlights challenges in prosecuting military personnel, but her actions are defended by some as attempts to uphold justice within a politicized and pressured environment.

International & Human Rights Concerns

The UN and international observers have criticized systemic abuse and torture in Israeli detention facilities, and the release of evidence by Tomer-Yerushalmi underscores the tension between transparency and national image, but global legal repercussions for Israel remain uncertain as the country faces scrutiny in international courts.

Current Status

Tomer-Yerushalmi remains in custody under investigation, and five soldiers charged with aggravated abuse are not in custody or under legal restrictions, but ongoing investigations and international attention continue to spotlight military accountability and human rights compliance within Israel.

📰 News On Military Lawyer

+ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/03/israels-top-military-lawyer-arrested-after-she-admitted-leaking-video-of-soldiers-abuse

+ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-03/top-israeli-military-prosecutor-arrested-for-leaking-abuse-video

+ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/3/israel-arrests-ex-army-lawyer-over-leaked-video-showing-palestinians-abuse