Israel punishes truth-teller: Prosecutor jailed for exposing prison abuse

An Israeli military prosecutor who exposed systematic torture of Palestinian prisoners has been arrested after leaking graphic evidence from the Sde Teiman detention facility. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who served as Israel's Military Prosecutor General, confirmed she disclosed August 2024 footage showing Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting and torturing Palestinian detainees, leading to her forced resignation and subsequent detention by Israeli authorities.

Government Retaliation Against Whistleblower

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly condemned Yerushalmi as dealing "the biggest blow to Israel's international image" following her confession about leaking the torture evidence. The prosecutor disappeared Sunday after leaving a suicide note, prompting extensive searches by Israeli police and military units before her location was discovered and she was taken into custody. Yerushalmi had been stripped of all military ranks prior to her arrest.

Documented Torture Practices

The leaked footage broadcast on Israel's Channel 12 television revealed extensive human rights violations at the Sde Teiman facility in the Negev Desert. International human rights reports confirmed soldiers subjected Gazan detainees to deliberate humiliation, psychological abuse, and sexual assault using police dogs. Documented practices included prolonged sleep deprivation, forced nudity in prison yards, and denial of basic hygiene necessities and medical care.

Broader Context of Abuse and International Response

Human rights activists have described the arrest as evidence of a system that protects perpetrators rather than victims, noting that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has established a security regime that systematically covers up torture allegations. The case has prompted calls for the International Criminal Court to investigate Sde Teiman prison abuses, with activists arguing the facility represents only a small fraction of wider human rights violations occurring throughout Israeli detention centers.