Israeli Military's Chief Legal Officer Resigns Over Leaked Detainee Abuse Video Investigation

Politicians quickly responded to Tomer-Yerushalmi's resignation announcement. (File)

Jerusalem:

Israel's top military legal officer tendered her resignation on Friday following a criminal investigation into the unauthorized release of footage showing alleged mistreatment of a Palestinian detainee captured during Gaza operations.

Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Advocate General, confirmed in her resignation that she had authorized the video's disclosure in August 2024.

The abuse investigation resulted in criminal charges against five military personnel and ignited significant controversy. Right-wing political figures condemned the inquiry, while protesters forcibly entered two military installations after investigators sought to question soldiers involved in the case.

Approximately one week following these base incursions, security camera footage depicting the alleged abuse incident was provided to Israel's N12 News network.

The footage showed soldiers isolating a prisoner and gathering around him while handling a dog and using riot shields to obstruct visibility of their actions.

Defence Minister Israel Katz disclosed on Wednesday that an ongoing criminal investigation was examining the video leak and that Tomer-Yerushalmi had been placed on mandatory leave.

In her statement, Tomer-Yerushalmi justified her actions as necessary to counter propaganda targeting the military's legal department, which she maintained was responsible for upholding legal standards and had faced continuous criticism throughout the conflict.

The recorded incident occurred at Sde Teiman detention facility, which houses Hamas militants involved in the October 7, 2023 attack that precipitated the war, alongside Palestinians detained during subsequent Gaza military operations.

Human rights organizations have documented serious abuses against Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities during the conflict. The Israeli military has launched investigations into dozens of alleged incidents but maintains that abuse is not systematic within its detention system.

In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi described Sde Teiman detainees as "terrorists of the worst kind," but emphasized that this classification did not eliminate the obligation to investigate suspected mistreatment.

"Unfortunately, this fundamental understanding - that certain actions remain impermissible even toward the most despicable detainees - is no longer universally accepted," she stated.

Political reactions to Tomer-Yerushalmi's resignation were immediate. Defence Minister Katz declared that anyone spreading "blood libels against Israeli soldiers was unworthy of donning IDF uniform."

Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated the resignation and advocated for investigations into additional legal authorities.

Ben-Gvir also shared footage of himself standing over restrained Palestinian prisoners lying on the floor in an Israeli detention facility, claiming they were October 7 attackers who deserved capital punishment.

As part of the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement, approximately 1,700 Gaza detainees were released this month in exchange for 20 Israeli hostages, some of whom have reported experiencing torture and mistreatment during their captivity.

Three former hostages informed Israeli media that their captors occasionally beat them in retaliation for statements made by Ben-Gvir, who has publicly taken pride in implementing harsher conditions for Palestinian prisoners. Ben-Gvir responded that these allegations ultimately serve Hamas's interests.