Israel arrests former military legal chief after leaked abuse video

Israeli police have arrested former military advocate general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, authorities confirmed on Monday, November 3, following a scandal surrounding a leaked video that appeared to show Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. The arrest came after a tumultuous weekend in which Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned from her post and was reported missing for several hours on Sunday, November 2, prompting widespread speculation in Israeli media about a possible suicide attempt. In her resignation letter, published by local outlets on Friday, Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted that her office had released the controversial footage to the media last year. The video, filmed at the Sde Teiman military base, showed soldiers allegedly mistreating a Palestinian detainee held during the Gaza war. Following the leak, five reservist soldiers were charged in 2024 with offences including acting against the detainee with severe violence, among them stabbing the detainee near the rectum with a sharp object. Prosecutors said the abuse caused severe physical injury including cracked ribs, a punctured lung and an inner rectal tear. The National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, confirmed Tomer-Yerushalmis arrest in a statement on Telegram, saying: It was agreed that in light of last nights events, the prison service would act with extra vigilance to ensure the detainees safety in the detention centre where she has been placed in custody. He also stressed the need for a thorough investigation, adding: It is important to conduct the investigation professionally in order to uncover the full truth regarding the case that led to a blood libel against IDF soldiers. Israeli media reported that a Tel Aviv court ordered Tomer-Yerushalmis remand in custody until Wednesday noon, on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and disclosure of information by a public servant. Another member of the military prosecution is also implicated in the case. The Israeli army had earlier confirmed her resignation and announced an ongoing investigation into the leaked video. The footage, broadcast by Channel 12 in August 2024, depicted incidents at the Sde Teiman base, which has been used to detain Palestinians captured during the Gaza conflict. Although the video did not show the abuse directly, it reportedly captured soldiers shielding the acts from the camera. The incident sparked international condemnation and protests within Israel, intensifying scrutiny of the militarys treatment of detainees amid the war that began after Hamass attack on October 7, 2023. The Israeli military acknowledged in February 2025 that it had gathered extensive evidence, including surveillance footage and medical records, to support the charges against the five soldiers. The statement detailed that the abuse occurred on July 5, 2024, during a search operation when the detainee, blindfolded and handcuffed, was taken to a separate area and assaulted. As news of Tomer-Yerushalmis arrest broke, Channel 12 reported that police believed she may have staged her disappearance to dispose of her phone, which could contain compromising information. Some outlets said she left behind a note that could be interpreted as a suicide letter. The case has renewed international scrutiny of Israels military detention practices. A UN commission report released in October 2024 concluded that thousands of detainees had been subjected to widespread and systematic abuse in Israeli military camps, describing the acts as war crimes and crimes against humanity of torture. Israel rejected the UNs findings, calling them outrageous and maintaining that it remains fully committed to international legal standards regarding the treatment of detainees. The scandal surrounding Tomer-Yerushalmi has further intensified debate within Israel about accountability, ethics, and the image of its military amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.The post Israel arrests former military legal chief after leaked abuse video appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.