Leaked Prison Video and Arrest of IDF’s Top Lawyer: Key Facts About the Scandal Shaking Israel

Overview

Less than a week ago Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer‑Yerushalmi served as the Israel Defense Forces’ top legal officer, responsible for upholding the rule of law within the military. She is now in custody as part of a criminal investigation into the leak of footage that appears to show the alleged abuse, including sexual assault, of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military prison.

What happened

The footage, first broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12 in August 2024, depicts soldiers allegedly sexually assaulting a detainee while roughly two dozen other detainees lay face‑down nearby. IDF investigators opened an inquiry in July 2024 after initial reports and whistleblower accounts raised concerns about conditions at Sde Teiman.

Immediate consequences

Five soldiers were later indicted (February 2025) on charges related to the detainee’s alleged abuse; they deny wrongdoing. The release of the footage prompted intense political backlash, with members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing coalition participating in protests and riots outside the Sde Teiman base and the military court where the soldiers were held.

Investigation into the leak and Tomer‑Yerushalmi’s role

Attorney General Gali Baharav‑Miara announced a criminal inquiry into the leak. Tomer‑Yerushalmi was suspended from her post and submitted her resignation, acknowledging that she had approved the release of material and saying she accepted "full responsibility for any material that was released to the media from within the unit."

"There are things that cannot be done even against the worst of the detainees," she wrote, describing what she called an "incitement campaign" against legal‑unit officers who sought to defend the rule of law.

Hours after her resignation, senior officials — including Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir — criticized her actions and called for further sanctions, with Katz saying he would explore stripping her rank.

Disappearance, arrest and charges

After briefly going missing on a Sunday, during which the IDF and police said they were searching for her, Tomer‑Yerushalmi was found on a beach north of Tel Aviv and arrested that evening. Police say she is suspected of multiple offenses, including fraud and breach of trust, abuse of official power, obstruction of justice, and unlawful disclosure of information by a public official. Authorities also allege she may have misled the High Court of Justice and submitted a false affidavit; several other senior legal officials are reportedly implicated. Five suspects have been identified in the probe.

She has not been formally charged in court and has not entered a plea; her next hearing is scheduled as the investigation continues. A lawyer for Tomer‑Yerushalmi has declined to comment publicly.

Complications for prosecution and political fallout

The Palestinian detainee alleged to have been abused was returned to Gaza under a US‑brokered ceasefire agreement, raising questions about whether he will be available to testify and complicating prosecutors’ efforts. The affair has also intensified wider political battles: Justice Minister Yariv Levin has attempted to block Baharav‑Miara from overseeing the leak probe and suggested the attorney general’s role be examined, while Baharav‑Miara’s office called such interference unlawful and obstructive.

Why this matters

The case combines alleged criminal conduct by soldiers, questions about accountability and transparency inside the military legal system, and a sharp political dispute over Israel’s judiciary. It has become a focal point for broader tensions within Israeli politics and for international scrutiny of the conduct of forces during the Gaza war.

Key timeline

• May 2024: CNN interviews whistleblowers reporting alleged abuse at Sde Teiman.
• June 2024: Israeli officials announce plans to begin phasing out the Sde Teiman facility.
• July 2024: IDF investigators open an inquiry into the conduct shown in the footage.
• August 2024: Channel 12 broadcasts the leaked video.
• February 2025: Five soldiers are indicted in connection with the alleged abuse.
• Shortly afterward (2025): Tomer‑Yerushalmi is suspended, resigns, briefly goes missing, and is arrested as part of the leak investigation.

What to watch next

Developments to monitor include the progress of the criminal probe into the leak, whether Tomer‑Yerushalmi will face formal charges, the availability of witnesses for the soldiers’ prosecutions, and any further political moves affecting Israel’s judiciary and military legal institutions.