Top Israeli Military Lawyer Resigns After Leaking Disturbing Abuse Video

JERUSALEM, Israel — Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the top lawyer for the Israeli military, resigned on November 1, 2025, after admitting she leaked a video showing soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian prisoner. The shocking footage, released to the press in August 2024, depicted soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention facility brutally assaulting a blindfolded detainee, leading to widespread outrage.

In her resignation statement, Tomer-Yerushalmi stated that mounting pressure from right-wing factions within Israel influenced her decision to leak the footage. She claimed it was an attempt to counter “false propaganda” targeting the military’s law enforcement. The original indictment highlighted severe physical abuse inflicted upon the victim, stating he suffered a ruptured bowel, broken ribs, and other serious injuries during the assault.

At least nine soldiers faced allegations related to the incident, with only five remaining under prosecution. In February 2025, those five were indicted for “severely abusing” the detainee, but not for rape, which drew criticism from various human rights groups and a United Nations commission regarding the perceived leniency of the charges.

The resignation sparked a political backlash, especially among right-wing politicians like Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who condemned the investigations into the soldiers and criticized Tomer-Yerushalmi’s actions. Ben-Gvir previously called on her to leave the soldiers alone, implying that the investigations were damaging to Israel’s military image.

The leaked video, aired by Channel 12 in August 2024, depicted a disturbing scene where a group of soldiers surrounded a blindfolded Palestinian prisoner, obstructing visibility while inflicting violence. The military police’s subsequent inquiries led to protests from far-right supporters of the soldiers involved.

The UN has continuously condemned the treatment of detainees at facilities like Sde Teiman, emphasizing that reports of torture and violence, including sexual violence, are systemic. Recent investigations revealed that many returned bodies of Palestinian detainees showed signs of severe mistreatment.

Tomer-Yerushalmi’s resignation not only marks a significant shift within the military prosecutor’s office but also highlights ongoing tensions between Israel’s military, political leadership, and the judicial system amid the controversies surrounding the treatment of Palestinian detainees. The situation remains fluid as the military’s leadership and legal frameworks navigate the implications of this highly publicized case.