Israel’s top military lawyer, Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, resigned on Friday after she admitted authorizing the leak of a video showing soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee during the Gaza war.
The video, recorded at Sde Teiman detention camp, showed troops surrounding a prisoner with riot shields and a dog. After its release in August 2024, authorities charged five soldiers, sparking anger among right-wing politicians. Protesters stormed two army bases after investigators summoned troops for questioning.
Defence Minister Israel Katz later confirmed that Tomer-Yerushalmi was on forced leave while officials investigated the leak. In her resignation letter, she said she released the footage to counter false propaganda against the military’s legal branch.
“Even the worst terrorists must not face illegal abuse,” she wrote. “But this belief no longer convinces everyone.”
Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed her exit and demanded investigations into other legal officials. He again called for the death penalty for Hamas attackers.
The scandal deepened existing tensions over alleged mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli custody. Human rights groups accuse the army of abuse, while the military insists that it investigates every complaint.
