Israeli Ex-Military Chief Prosecutor Arrested Over Video Leak Scandal
Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the former chief military prosecutor of the Israeli army, has been arrested following her resignation over a scandal involving the leak of a video that allegedly shows Israeli soldiers committing violence against a Palestinian prisoner. Tomer-Yerushalmi is accused of secretly authorizing the release of the video, which was taken in 2024 at the Sde Teiman military base.
Background of the Scandal
The video, first aired by Israel's Channel 12 in August 2024, allegedly shows a group of Israeli soldiers at Sde Teiman detention camp sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee. It led to five Israeli reserve soldiers being charged, with a criminal investigation into the leak subsequently launched by Israeli police.
According to a copy of the resignation letter published by Israeli media, Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted she authorized the video's leak to counter false propaganda against the army's law enforcement authorities.
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Tomer-Yerushalmi went missing on Sunday, leaving behind a note and abandoning her car by the beach. This sparked fears of a suicide attempt, but she was later found alive in good health and taken into police custody. Israeli police suspect Tomer-Yerushalmi staged the attempted suicide to dispose of her phone, which allegedly contained incriminating evidence related to the video leak scandal.
Reactions and Implications
The leak of the video has been described as the most serious public relations attack against Israel,
by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The case has sparked significant controversy, with right-wing politicians and pundits calling the soldiers accused of the attack on the Palestinian detainee 'heroes,' while labelling military investigators as traitors.
The accused soldiers, appearing outside Israel's Supreme Court in West Jerusalem, defended their actions and vowed to fight for justice.
Meanwhile, suspects in the case have called for the trial to be cancelled following Tomer-Yerushalmi's admission of leaking the video.
Current Status
Tomer-Yerushalmi is currently in police custody, with her detention extended by three days amid suspicions that she could attempt to obstruct the ongoing probe. Following her resignation, the Israeli military is set to appoint a new advocate general. The case continues to make headlines, highlighting critical issues related to prisoner treatment, military conduct, and public transparency in Israel.