Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, once a highly respected legal authority within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), now finds herself at the center of a national scandal that has riveted Israel’s public and media. On November 9, 2025, Tomer-Yerushalmi was urgently hospitalized in Tel Aviv after her family called for emergency assistance to their residence in central Israel. According to reports from Israeli television, including Channel 12 and Kan, authorities are investigating a possible suicide attempt, with initial evidence suggesting she may have swallowed an excessive dose of medication—possibly sleeping pills.
This dramatic turn of events follows Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest on November 7, 2025, after she was implicated in the leak of sensitive video footage. The video in question reportedly shows Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee at the controversial Sde Teiman prison in the occupied territories, a site that has long been a flashpoint in debates about military conduct and human rights.
Emergency teams responded swiftly to the early morning call from her home. As reported by Kan, they provided initial medical care at the scene before transporting the former chief legal officer to a hospital for further treatment. The urgency and gravity of the situation were immediately apparent, and news of her hospitalization quickly dominated headlines across Israel.
The legal and political stakes could hardly be higher. Tomer-Yerushalmi, who served as the Military Advocate General—a position equivalent to the army’s top legal counsel—was widely regarded as a pillar of the IDF’s legal establishment. Her leadership during a critical period of the ongoing conflict gave her both immense responsibility and visibility. According to reports from Mizan and Channel 12, her involvement in the Sde Teiman case has taken on dimensions far beyond a typical legal inquiry, drawing intense scrutiny from politicians, media, and the public alike.
The timeline of events leading to her hospitalization is as complex as it is troubling. After her arrest, an Israeli court altered her detention status, placing her under house arrest for ten days. The terms were strict: Tomer-Yerushalmi was allowed to leave her home only to visit her defense attorney’s office, and even then, she had to notify authorities in advance. She was explicitly forbidden from contacting other suspects in the case for a period of 55 days. This move, according to Kan, was an attempt to limit her influence over the ongoing investigation and prevent any potential tampering with evidence or coordination with others involved.
But the intrigue did not end there. In a twist that added fuel to the media fire, Tomer-Yerushalmi’s mobile phone was discovered by an Israeli citizen swimming off Tzuk Beach in Tel Aviv. The device was found on the seabed, precisely in the area where she had last been seen before her recent disappearance. After being handed over to the police, it was confirmed to be hers. The circumstances of the phone’s discovery have only deepened the mystery surrounding her actions and state of mind in the days leading up to her hospitalization.
The Sde Teiman prison, where the alleged abuse took place, has a notorious reputation among human rights groups and international observers. The leaked video, central to the current scandal, purportedly documents Israeli soldiers assaulting a Palestinian prisoner in 2024. The footage’s emergence has reignited debates over the treatment of detainees and the broader conduct of Israeli security forces in the occupied territories.
As the investigation unfolded, Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced Tomer-Yerushalmi’s dismissal from her post. This decision was framed as part of a broader effort to address the leak and restore public confidence in the army’s legal oversight. However, earlier statements from the IDF suggested that she had resigned amid an internal probe into the abuse allegations. The dual narratives—dismissal versus resignation—reflect the high-stakes political maneuvering now surrounding the case.
According to Israeli media, the case has become a lightning rod for political and media attention, not least because of Tomer-Yerushalmi’s stature. As the head of the Military Advocate General’s office, she was responsible for upholding legal standards within the army at a time when Israel faced both internal and external pressures over its military operations. Her sudden fall from grace has prompted a wave of speculation, commentary, and, for some, soul-searching about the pressures faced by those tasked with navigating the intersection of law, ethics, and national security.
Emergency responders, quoted by Kan, described the situation as highly sensitive, noting that the initial report from Tomer-Yerushalmi’s residence specifically mentioned an overdose of medication. The rapid response and subsequent hospitalization underscored the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident. While official statements have been cautious, the prevailing assumption among Israeli media is that this was a suicide attempt—an interpretation lent weight by the timing and context of her recent legal troubles.
The political ramifications are already being felt. Critics of the government have seized on the incident to question the transparency and accountability of the investigation, while supporters of the security establishment have emphasized the need for strict legal controls over sensitive information. The fact that Tomer-Yerushalmi was both a high-ranking legal official and a suspect in a case involving the leak of classified material has only intensified the debate.
Meanwhile, the fate of the Sde Teiman prison case remains uncertain. Human rights advocates continue to press for full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse, while military officials insist that any wrongdoing will be addressed through proper legal channels. The leaked video has become a symbol of the broader tensions between security imperatives and the rule of law—a dilemma that has long haunted Israeli society.
For now, Tomer-Yerushalmi remains hospitalized, her future uncertain. The investigation into her actions, and into the abuse at Sde Teiman, continues to unfold under the glare of public scrutiny. As Israel grapples with the fallout from this high-profile scandal, the story of a once-trusted legal leader’s dramatic reversal serves as a sobering reminder of the immense pressures that come with positions of power and responsibility.
The coming weeks are likely to bring further revelations, as investigators sift through evidence and political leaders weigh their next moves. Whatever the outcome, the case of Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi will be remembered as a defining episode in the ongoing struggle to balance justice, accountability, and national security in Israel.
