Israeli army shuts down military prosecutor’s media division

According to the Israeli “7 News” network, following a major scandal triggered by the release of a video showing the torture of Palestinian prisoners at the “Sadeh Teyman” security detention center in the occupied territories, the Israeli army took an unprecedented step to restrict information flow by closing the military prosecutor’s media division under the order of Itai Ofir, the new chief military prosecutor.

This division, which operated outside the official army spokesperson’s office and was managed by legal officers and military personnel, was accused of releasing the video of severe torture and beating of a Palestinian prisoner at Sadeh Teyman without coordinating with the army’s official media channels. The video had exposed the harsh treatment of detainees in the Israeli military. The division has now been effectively dissolved by Ofir’s decision.

This action comes amid reports that Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the former military prosecutor, admitted to her direct role in leaking the video—an admission that media sources say was intended to counter pressure from right-wing factions and defend the army’s judicial system.

Explaining the closure, Ofir emphasized: “Legal professionals should focus on legal work, not media activities.” From now on, the military prosecutor’s office will only disseminate information through the official army spokesperson’s channels. Observers say this decision is part of a broader trend of media blackouts and reduced transparency in sensitive military cases, particularly in Israeli security prisons, which could lead to increased abuse of detainees.