Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the former Military Advocate General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), has been arrested following allegations connected to a leaked video that purportedly depicts the abuse of a Palestinian detainee by Israeli soldiers. Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned from her position last week, acknowledging her responsibility for the leak.
On a subsequent Sunday, concerns grew when she was reported missing, prompting a police search along a beach north of Tel Aviv. She was eventually located in good health but was taken into custody. The fallout from the video, which aired on an Israeli news channel in August, allegedly shows reserve soldiers abusing a detainee at the Sde Teiman military base. The detainee reportedly received treatment for serious injuries sustained during the incident.
In response to the video, five reservists have been charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm, though they have denied all allegations. On Sunday, some displayed masks to obscure their identities during a news conference where their legal representatives argued for the dismissal of their trial.
It has also come to light that the detainee was released to Gaza in October as part of a prisoner exchange involving Hamas. An investigation into the leak of the video was initiated last week, with Tomer-Yerushalmi placed on leave. Following the investigation, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that she would not return to her role. In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi defended her actions in releasing the footage to combat claims of false narratives concerning military conduct.
The incident has sparked a notable political divide in Israel, as opinions diverge between those who see the leak as a betrayal of the military and those who consider it an important step toward accountability for abuses. Last October, a UN report accused Israel of widespread abuses against detainees, claims that the Israeli government has firmly rejected.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0kpd97qqko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss