The Leak, The Lawyer, and The Scandal Shaking Israel
Just days ago, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi held one of the most powerful legal positions in Israel. As the military’s top lawyer, her job was to ensure that the army followed its own laws. Now, she is at the center of a storm that has gripped the nation, suspended from her post, and under criminal investigation.
Her dramatic fall is linked to a secret video—a video that shows alleged abuse of Palestinian detainees and has ignited a fierce debate about justice and morality in a country at war.
A Shocking Video and a Swift Investigation
The scandal begins at a place called the Sde Teiman military prison. This facility has long been criticized by human rights groups. In July 2024, the Israeli military’s legal unit itself began looking into disturbing claims. Soldiers were accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee who had been arrested during the Gaza war. The investigation led to the arrest of several soldiers.
But the case exploded into public view in August when an Israeli television channel, Channel 12, aired a video. The leaked footage was reportedly connected to the initial investigation. It allegedly showed the assault happening while two dozen other detainees lay face-down nearby. The broadcast of these images sent a shockwave through Israeli society.
This was not the first time concerns about Sde Teiman had been raised. Months earlier, CNN had spoken to whistleblowers who described abuse at the base. The reports caused enough concern that Israel announced it would eventually phase out the use of the facility. But the video made the abstract allegations terrifyingly real.
For More Read Report from CNN: A leaked video, a frantic search, and the top military lawyer
A Political Firestorm and a Target on Her Back
The decision to investigate and arrest the soldiers did not sit well with everyone. It sparked an intense backlash from parts of Israel’s right-wing. Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s own coalition joined protests and even riots outside the prison and the military court.
The anger was not aimed only at the soldiers. It was directed squarely at the woman who approved the legal action: Maj. Gen. Tomer-Yerushalmi. For a long time, she had been a target for critics who saw her as an obstacle to a tougher approach in the conflict.
The leak of the video became the pretext for her downfall. Last Wednesday, Israel’s Attorney General suspended Tomer-Yerushalmi and announced a criminal investigation—not into the abuse, but into how the video was leaked to the media.
Just two days later, the top military lawyer resigned.
A Resignation and a Strong Defense
In her resignation letter, she did not hide. She acknowledged that she had approved the release of the video and took “full responsibility.” But she framed her actions as a stand for the rule of law.
She wrote that an “incitement campaign” against her had reached its peak after she decided to investigate the soldiers. She described how she and her legal team faced “repeated personal attacks, harsh insults, and even real threats.”
“All of this because they stood guard over the rule of law in the IDF,” she stated. She made a powerful moral argument, writing, “There are things that cannot be done even against the worst of the detainees.”
Her resignation marks a pivotal moment. A scandal that began with a video of alleged abuse has now become a story about a high-stakes battle over the soul of the military itself. It raises a difficult question for Israel: in a time of war, what happens to the rules? The search for answers continues, but the lawyer who was tasked with upholding them has now fallen on her own sword.
Author: Yasir Khan
Date: 04 Nov, 2025
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