Israeli police have arrested the country's former top military lawyer on suspicion of faking a suicide attempt to dispose of a phone containing incriminating evidence in regards to leaking a video apparently showing soldiers raping a Palestinian detainee.
Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi went missing on Sunday after leaving a note to the family and abandoning her car by the beach.
She was found at night alive and in good condition and brought to police custody.
Israeli Channel 12 news reported that police suspect Tomer-Yerushalmi staged the attempted suicide to get rid of her phone, which she tossed into the sea. The letter she left behind was described as "ambiguous" and staged.
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At least nine Israeli soldiers were questioned over the assault in late July 2024, sparking widespread anger across Israel, with polls showing that a majority believe the accused officers should not face criminal charges.
Only five soldiers were eventually indicted for "severe abuse" of the detainee, but not for rape. The trial is ongoing.
On Sunday, the accused soldiers called for the case to be dropped.
