Updated by FFRNews on November 3, 2025
Israel arrests ex army lawyer Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi after she reportedly leaked a disturbing video exposing Israeli soldiers mistreating a Palestinian detainee. Her detention has ignited a fierce political and legal debate across Israel, raising questions about transparency, human rights, and accountability within the country’s defense establishment.
The scandal and disappearance
Major General Tomer-Yerushalmi, a former senior military prosecutor, was taken into custody after she resigned and briefly went missing. According to local reports, she had admitted that her office released footage from the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel. The video, originally broadcast by Channel 12 in 2024, appeared to show soldiers using excessive force against a Palestinian prisoner, sparking widespread outrage both domestically and abroad.
The leaked material prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call the act one of the most “severe public relations attacks” against the state since its founding. Observers say the government’s response—focusing on the leak rather than the abuse—has intensified public anger and revived international criticism of Israel’s conduct in occupied territories.
Legal storm in Tel Aviv
Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest has plunged Israel’s judiciary and military circles into turmoil. According to Israeli media, a Tel Aviv court has extended her remand until Wednesday. She faces possible charges of breach of trust, obstruction of justice, and disclosure of classified information. Another high-ranking official, former chief military prosecutor Colonel Matan Solomesh, was also detained as part of the ongoing investigation.
Speaking from Ramallah, Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh described the case as “a political and legal storm” that has shifted focus away from the alleged abuse itself. “The attention is on the leaker instead of the crime,” she said, emphasizing that such deflection has become a recurring pattern whenever incidents involving the mistreatment of Palestinians come to light.
Details from Sde Teiman
The controversy centers on events at Sde Teiman, a detention facility reportedly used to hold Palestinians captured during the Gaza conflict. Surveillance footage from the base suggested that several reservists had beaten and assaulted a detainee, though much of the incident was obscured by soldiers blocking the camera with shields.
Following an internal review, the Israeli military charged five reservists with “severe violence” against the prisoner. Prosecutors said the victim suffered multiple injuries, including cracked ribs, a punctured lung, and internal tearing, after being stabbed with a sharp object. The abuse reportedly took place during a cell search on July 5, 2024.
Government reaction and public concern
In a message shared on Telegram, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir confirmed that special measures were in place to ensure Tomer-Yerushalmi’s safety while in custody. Her brief disappearance prior to arrest led to fears of a possible suicide attempt.
The incident has triggered outrage among rights groups, with international observers warning that such acts could violate international humanitarian law. The United Nations has repeatedly urged Israel to investigate reports of systemic mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, noting that accountability remains rare.
Divisions deepen over truth and justice
The Israel arrests ex-army lawyer case has reignited debate over freedom of information and state secrecy in Israel. Supporters argue Tomer-Yerushalmi acted out of moral duty to expose wrongdoing, while critics claim she jeopardized national security. Analysts suggest her prosecution could deter future whistleblowers and further damage Israel’s reputation abroad.
Human rights advocates stress that the focus should return to the original abuse rather than the act of leaking. Many Israelis are now questioning whether the system is more concerned with protecting its image than upholding justice.
For readers following similar developments, explore the Politics section of FFRNEWS for more coverage on Israel-Palestine relations, or read the original Al Jazeera report for additional context.
