Former Israeli military prosecutor arrested for leaking video of Palestinian prisoner abuse
Israeli police arrested the country’s former top military lawyer this week after she admitted leaking footage of a brutal assault on a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman facility. The move has sparked a political firestorm and renewed international scrutiny of detainee treatment.
- A Tel Aviv court has remanded Tomer-Yerushalmi in custody at least until mid-week, while investigations continue.
- Authorities also arrested Colonel Matan Solomesh, former Chief Military Prosecutor, in connection with the leak investigation.
- Observers will watch whether the prosecutions of the five reservist soldiers proceed unhindered or whether the leak saga undermines the legal process and accountability.
Israeli authorities arrested Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi on 3 November 2025 following an investigation into a leaked video depicting the alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military detention facility.
She resigned from her post on 31 October 2025, acknowledging in her resignation letter that she authorised the release of the footage.
Her arrest occurred after she briefly went missing on Sunday, prompting a police search. She was later found and detained.
The video and the underlying case
The leaked footage, originally broadcast in August 2024, reportedly shows soldiers at Sde Teiman detaining a Palestinian from Gaza and engaging in acts of severe violence.
According to the indictment referenced by multiple sources, five reservists are charged with “acting against the detainee with great violence, including stabbing the detainee’s bottom with a sharp object” and causing serious injuries including broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal trauma.
Tomer-Yerushalmi stated in her resignation letter:
“I authorised the release of material to the media in an attempt to counter false propaganda against law enforcement authorities in the army.”
Legal and political consequences
Tomer-Yerushalmi is now being investigated on multiple suspicions including fraud, breach of trust, abuse of office, obstruction of justice, and unauthorised disclosure of official information by a public servant.
Her arrest has triggered a heated debate in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the leak as “perhaps the most severe public relations attack” on the country.
Right-wing politicians and some military figures have accused her of undermining troop morale and national security by releasing classified footage.
Broader implications for detainee treatment and military accountability
The incident underscores long-standing concerns raised by human rights organisations about detainee treatment in Israeli military facilities, particularly since the Gaza conflict began.
Critics argue that while the focus has shifted to the leak of the video, the underlying acts of abuse and the transparency of investigations remain unresolved.
Military legal reform, detainee protection and the handling of evidence in such cases are now under intense scrutiny, both domestically and internationally.
What happens next?
A Tel Aviv court has remanded Tomer-Yerushalmi in custody at least until mid-week, while investigations continue.
Authorities also arrested Colonel Matan Solomesh, former Chief Military Prosecutor, in connection with the leak investigation.
Observers will watch whether the prosecutions of the five reservist soldiers proceed unhindered or whether the leak saga undermines the legal process and accountability.
