JERUSALEM: The Israeli military has confirmed that its top legal officer, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, resigned on Friday amid an ongoing investigation into a leaked video showing soldiers violently abusing a Palestinian detainee. The footage, reportedly filmed at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel, has drawn widespread international condemnation and sparked protests within Israel itself.
Outrage Over Leaked Footage
The disturbing video, which surfaced last year, allegedly shows Israeli soldiers subjecting a Palestinian detainee to brutal physical abuse. Sde Teiman, a base that has been used to detain Gazans since the war began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, has long been criticised by rights groups for reports of inhumane treatment.
Following the leak, the Israeli military announced a criminal investigation earlier this week to determine how the footage was obtained and to hold those responsible for both the abuse and the leak accountable.
Lawyer Steps Down Amid Investigation
In a statement released on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said:
“The Military Advocate General, MG Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, submitted a request this morning to conclude her position.”
While no specific reason was given for her resignation, military sources and local reports suggest the decision was linked to mounting pressure over the handling of the abuse investigation and its political fallout.
The military’s statement added that the Chief of the General Staff remains confident a “thorough and truthful inquiry” will be carried out regarding the allegations and the internal response to the case.
Details of the Abuse Case
In February, the Israeli military announced that five reservist soldiers had been charged in connection with the incident. According to court documents, they were accused of “acting against the detainee with severe violence, including stabbing the detainee’s bottom with a sharp object, which penetrated near the detainee’s rectum.”
The IDF confirmed that the assault caused serious injuries, including cracked ribs, a punctured lung, and an inner rectal tear. The soldiers are currently facing prosecution in Israel’s military court system.
Fallout and Resignation Letter
Israeli media later published excerpts from Tomer-Yerushalmi’s resignation letter, in which she admitted that her office had released information to the press during the investigation. She also acknowledged facing political pressure from far-right activists and protests aimed at derailing the inquiry into the soldiers’ misconduct.
Her resignation has further deepened tensions within Israel’s political and military establishment, exposing divisions over how the army handles allegations of human rights violations in the occupied territories.
Broader Implications
The scandal at Sde Teiman comes at a time when Israel is already facing mounting global criticism for its actions in Gaza. The incident has intensified calls from human rights groups and UN officials for greater oversight of Israel’s detention practices, especially those involving Palestinian civilians.
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