'Israel' investigates whistleblowers who leaked footage of Palestinian detainee rape

• 'Israel' investigates alleged leaks of video showing abuse of Palestinian detainee, not the perpetrators.
• Five reservists already indicted for severe abuse at Sde Teiman detention camp.
• Military Advocate General’s Office faces scrutiny over possible misleading of the High Court.
• Experts warn media focus on leaks distracts from broader human rights concerns in 'Israeli' detention facilities.

The 'Israeli' army has launched a criminal investigation into the leak of footage from the Sde Teiman detention camp, which shows a blindfolded, handcuffed Palestinian detainee being raped for approximately 15 minutes by a unit of 'Israeli' reservists.

Read more: VIDEO: Camera footage exposes Israeli Occupation soldiers raping Palestinian prisoner

The probe focuses on whether officials in the Military Advocate General’s (MAG) office facilitated the leak to Channel 12, rather than targeting the perpetrators themselves. 'Israel’s' chief military prosecutor, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, has taken leave amid the scandal.

Earlier, five reservists at Sde Teiman were indicted for “severe abuse” that left a detainee with broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a torn rectum. The case sparked protests near military bases, with some civilians defending the accused soldiers in rallies that have been dubbed 'Israel’s' “right-to-rape” demonstrations.

Read more: “Everything is legitimate,” “Israeli” lawmaker defends sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners

Police are also investigating suspicions that the MAG’s office misled the High Court of Justice in reporting on the leak. The affair has drawn significant attention from right-wing media outlets, which have highlighted the potential involvement of the Military Advocate General’s office and Tomer-Yerushalmi herself. Some lawmakers hope this scrutiny will divert attention from allegations of abuse by reservists.

Defense Minister Israel Katz has publicly criticized Tomer-Yerushalmi and indicated she may not return to her post, using the investigation as an opportunity to assert influence over military appointments. Meanwhile, legislation to curb the powers of the attorney general and changes to military media outlets are moving forward.

Experts and human rights observers note that while the leaked footage has generated significant attention, broader issues in 'Israeli' detention facilities remain largely unaddressed. Palestinians report that at least 80 prisoners have died in 'Israeli' detention centers during the conflict, often under suspicious circumstances. Former detainees describe systemic abuse, including starvation, denial of medical treatment, and harsh conditions for those with war injuries.

A reservist who served at Sde Teiman told Haaretz in May stated, “Sde Teiman, as anyone who has been there knows, is a sadistic torture camp. Detainees entered it alive and left in bags. … I saw people enter this facility with war injuries and then starve for weeks without any medical treatment. Many of them weren’t Nukhba fighters, just Gazans who were detained for questioning and released after severe abuse.”