IDF Legal Chief Arrested After Leaking Footage of Sde Teiman Abuse

Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned from her post last Friday, explicitly claiming responsibility for the leaked footage. In her resignation letter, she stated the decision was intended to counter claims from far-right figures who dismissed reports of systemic torture at the prison as fabricated propaganda. Following her arrest, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and prison authorities ordered her placed under heightened supervision, citing concerns regarding her safety and potential self-harm.

The released footage depicts soldiers from the unit known as Force 100 attacking a detainee, who reportedly suffered severe injuries including a ruptured bowel and broken ribs. While the leak triggered calls for investigations into the abuse, it simultaneously ignited a fierce political backlash. Senior government officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, focused their outrage on the leak itself rather than the allegations of assault, with some prominent politicians publicly championing the accused soldiers as heroes.

This incident has brought renewed international scrutiny to the Sde Teiman facility, where numerous reports from medical professionals and former detainees describe widespread abuses, including electrocution, prolonged shackling, and sexual violence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the leak as a severe blow to Israel’s public image, even as his government faces ongoing legal pressure regarding broader conduct in Gaza.