Jerusalem, 3 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli police on Tuesday announced they have concluded their investigation into former Military Advocate-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi over the leak of CCTV footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility, saying no evidence was found implicating parties outside the military prosecution system. That determination rules out the involvement of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara or officials in her office in the leak or any alleged cover-up, police added.
According to a police statement, Police Commissioner Daniel Levy met with the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division and the probe team, who presented him with the findings. Following the briefing, Levy instructed the police’s legal adviser to update the Justice Ministry’s legal adviser on issues relevant to a possible conflict of interest and recommended that a senior external professional review the case.
“The investigation team that examined the leak of the video has completed the main investigative activities,” police said, adding that “contrary to erroneous publications, the Commissioner did not interfere in the investigation.”
Police Attorney General Elazar Kahana, in a letter to the Justice Ministry’s legal adviser summarizing the investigation’s conclusion, stated that “no basis was found against individuals from external circles” to the military prosecution.
Despite the conclusion of the probe, Levy decided not to forward the investigation materials directly to Baharav-Miara. Instead, the findings were sent to the Justice Ministry’s legal adviser, a move the police said was intended to address public concerns about impartiality.
“In order to strengthen public trust, the Commissioner believes that it is right to allow another senior professional, external to the police, to examine the entirety of the investigative activities that were carried out,” the police statement said. “As is known, such a person has not been appointed to date.”
The police said the Justice Ministry’s legal adviser will review whether a conflict of interest still exists that would prevent the attorney general and the State Attorney’s Office from handling the case. Depending on that opinion, the investigation materials will either be returned to the prosecution for a decision on possible indictments or transferred to an external examining body.
The question of a potential conflict of interest previously reached the High Court of Justice. The court accepted the principle that an external supervisor should be appointed for the investigation phase but rejected candidates proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, including retired judge Asher Kula, citing legal constraints.
The controversy centers on the investigation into former Military Advocate-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi and the leak of a video showing Israeli soldiers appearing to abuse a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman facility. Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted leaking the video and later lying about it while ostensibly leading an inquiry to find the leaker.
The Palestinian, whose name has not been publicly released, returned to Gaza on October 13, when Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Five army reservists from the Force 100 Military Police unit were indicted in February for assault and causing severe injury.
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