IDF chief kicks former advocate general out of military over ‘Sde Teiman Affair’

The former Military Advocate General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be dismissed from the military effective immediately, will be stripped of some of her benefits, and could even face a demotion in rank, the IDF announced Tuesday.

IDF Chief Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir had already decided to dismiss Maj.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi last year, after she had admitted responsibility for the leaking of a video purportedly showing IDF soldiers violently abusing a prisoner, which had caused international outrage, as well as the following cover-up.

Now, Zamir decided to dismiss her without further delay “in light of the prolonged criminal proceedings, and given the severity of the alleged actions and suspicions,” according to an IDF statement.

She will also “not be entitled to the benefits of ‘service period completion,'" despite having served for over 25 years. In addition, the IDF said Zamir would consider a demotion once the facts of the criminal proceedings become clear and the process is completed.”

The Sde Teiman affair began on July 5, 2024, when a Gazan prisoner was found with severe injuries in the facility in southern Israel. The nature of the injuries raised suspicions of sodomy and sexual abuse, which raised an international outcry and is used as ammunition for allegations of systematic sexual abuse of prisoners by Israel to this day.

Ultimately, an indictment was filed against five reserve soldiers, including two officers. This, however, did not include charges of sexual abuse but “only” severe violence. The criminal charges, filed by Tomer-Yerushalmi, were finally dropped in March of this year by her successor.

However, the affair took another drastic turn in November 2025, when Tomer-Yerushalmi first acknowledged that she had knowingly approved the leaking of a surveillance video purportedly showing the soldiers abusing the detainee, before apparently staging a suicide attempt in an effort to get rid of evidence on her phone and being arrested.

Shortly after, she was rushed to a hospital after an overdose scare during house arrest. The criminal investigation into her conduct and that of other military prosecution officials has continued since then.

In February, the police announced that their investigation had been completed and case materials would be transferred to an external body for review due to the high public sensitivity of the affair.

Defense Minister Israel Katz praised Zamir’s decision, saying he had already urged the Attorney General to expedite legal proceedings against the former Military Advocate General.

Katz argued that the alleged actions caused serious harm to IDF soldiers, the defense establishment and public trust, saying such conduct “cannot simply be ignored.”

He went on to sharply criticize the handling of the Sde Teiman affair, framing it as a betrayal of Israeli troops during wartime.

“The Sde Teiman affair is a severe blood libel against Force 100 and the heroic IDF soldiers, who operate day and night to defend the State of Israel against a cruel enemy. Whoever chose to take part in a move that harmed our fighters and their good name betrayed the trust placed in her within the most sensitive role in the military system,” Katz said.

Katz concluded by arguing that Israel’s military leadership and justice system must remain fully aligned with the country’s soldiers and wartime objectives.

“The State of Israel and the heroic soldiers of the IDF deserve commanders and a military justice system that operate with integrity, responsibility, and complete loyalty to the fighters and the country,” he concluded.