The Israeli military has been plunged into a deepening crisis following the resignation of Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Military Advocate General, after admitting to authorizing the release of a video allegedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a captured militant a video now believed to have been doctored.
The footage, which surfaced earlier this month, triggered widespread condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and reversed much of the global sympathy the country had received following the October 7 attacks. The video was broadcast by Channel 12 and quickly circulated worldwide, portraying what appeared to be severe mistreatment of a Hamas militant by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel at the Sde Teiman army base.
Public reaction inside Israel was immediate and explosive. Outrage spread across the political spectrum, with citizens and officials demanding accountability. Reports said the base came under heightened protection amid threats of mass protests from within Israel itself.
In a statement accompanying her resignation, Maj. Gen. Tomer-Yerushalmi defended her decision, saying she had approved the video’s release to counter what she described as “false propaganda” directed at the IDF’s legal system.
“I approved the release of material to the media in an attempt to counter the false propaganda directed against the military law enforcement authorities,” she wrote.
Her explanation, however, has done little to calm the storm. Critics accuse her of causing “irreparable damage” to Israel’s reputation and undermining the integrity of the IDF during wartime.
Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed her resignation, stating:
“Anyone who slanders IDF soldiers with blood libels is unworthy of wearing the uniform. Anyone found to have defamed our soldiers for the benefit of terrorists will be held accountable.”
The incident has shaken public confidence in Israel’s military leadership and raised urgent questions about internal oversight and media control during wartime. While investigations continue into the authenticity of the footage, early reports suggest that elements of the video were digitally manipulated.
The scandal has been described by commentators as a “national earthquake” within Israel’s defense establishment. Calls for a full criminal investigation are mounting as the government seeks to restore international credibility and domestic trust amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Credit: Hillel Fuld
Senior Reporter at AMN News Agency, known for his insightful journalism and in-depth coverage of current events.
