Top Israeli military prosecutor quits following Sde Teiman abuse controversy

Israel’s Chief Military Prosecutor, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, submitted her resignation on the morning of October 31 to the IDF Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, two days after she was placed on leave amid suspicions of involvement in the scandal surrounding the Sde Teiman military base.

According to Israeli media, during a morning meeting with the Chief of General Staff, Tomer-Yerushalmi accepted full responsibility for the video leak that triggered the controversy. 

She explained that her actions had been an attempt to counter a “campaign launched against the law enforcement system.” According to Israeli media, she is expected to be questioned by police next week as a witness in the ongoing investigation.

Lieutenant General Zamir immediately approved her resignation request. About an hour before the official announcement, Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement declaring that the military prosecutor would not be returning to her duties. His remarks were widely perceived as a public verdict on Tomer-Yerushalmi, even though she has not been named as a suspect in the investigation.

The leading candidate to replace her is Lieutenant Colonel Ofira Elkabets-Rothstein, who, until recently, served as Chief Military Defender and is regarded with high esteem in the army. Other potential contenders include Doron Ben-Barak and Avi Halabi, both former senior officials of the Military Prosecutor’s Office who previously resigned from the Israel Defence Forces.

The criminal investigation into the Sde Teiman affair was formally launched on October 29. The case centres on a leaked video aired in August 2025 by Channel 12 Keshet, which caused widespread outrage both in Israel and internationally. The footage purportedly showed Israeli soldiers physically assaulting a detained terrorist at the Sde Teiman base.

The leak occurred after the arrest of reservists from the Koah-100 unit, who were later charged with using violence against the detainee. Their arrests sparked a wave of protests across Israel, including intrusions into military bases, with some right-wing politicians reportedly joining the demonstrations.

According to the indictment, the incident took place on July 5, 2024, at the Sde Teiman base near Be’er Sheva. During the war, the base had been converted into a detention centre for captured militants.

Those indicted include a major, who commanded the unit, and a captain. Prosecutors allege that they were ordered to search a detained Nukhba militant. The prisoner was brought into the search area blindfolded and handcuffed and was then allegedly subjected to physical violence.

In late July, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division (METSACH) conducted searches at the base and detained eight reservists following reports and testimonies from foreign human rights organisations alleging violence against Hamas militants held at the facility.

Although the initial suspicions included possible sexual violence, such acts are not mentioned in the final indictment.

By Tamilla Hasanova