ZAKA searching for Military Advocate General's Phone

The intensive search for outgoing IDF Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi's missing cellphone entered its second day, with police and forensic teams scouring Tel Aviv-area beaches where her car was found on Sunday.

Tomer-Yerushalmi, 52, resigned Friday after admitting she authorized the August 2024 leak of footage showing alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee by IDF soldiers, an act she described as countering "false propaganda" against military investigators.

The video sparked riots at Sde Teiman and led to five soldiers' indictments in February 2025 for assault, including severe injuries to the detainee.

Timeline of Events

Friday, Oct. 31: Tomer-Yerushalmi resigns, citing the leak as her decision to "debunk attacks" on IDF legal teams. Defense Minister Israel Katz vows "all sanctions," accusing her of a "blood libel" against soldiers.

Sunday Morning: She goes missing after leaving a note for her family. Her car is found running at Hof HaTzouk beach near Herzliya, phone absent.

A massive hunt ensues, involving IDF navy, drones, and volunteers fearing suicide.

Sunday Evening: She's located alive, disoriented, and soaked on the beach. Police arrest her on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and misleading courts.

Interrogators ask about the phone; she reportedly replies, "I really don't remember."

Monday: Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extends her detention until November 5 (initially 3 days, later adjusted), citing obstruction risks.

Police probe additional suspects (now 5 arrested, 7 more questioned) and seize multiple phones, including from a WhatsApp group allegedly used for the leak.

She appeals the extension.

In a shocking bombshell discovery, yesterday, reports broke that the Palestinian who was 'abused' at Sde Teiman was 'mistakenly' released to Gaza 3 weeks ago, in the hostage prisoner swap.

The Phone Hunt: Latest Developments

Search Efforts: Forensic divers and volunteers combed Herzliya beaches Monday, focusing on tidal zones where the phone might have washed up or been discarded.

Police suspect it was submerged or destroyed during her ~8-hour absence, possibly to erase group chats approving the leak.

According to a Channel 14 report, Israeli police have obtained specific intelligence on the area where the Military Advocate General allegedly threw her cellphone. The location is approximately three kilometers from where she met with senior IDF officers. Police divers have already received a detailed briefing and began searching the designated zone for the missing device.

Recovery Challenges: Israeli labs (with EU/U.S. tech support) are assessing if data can be salvaged from water-damaged devices. Experts note high success rates for recent models (e.g., iPhone 15/16) if retrieved soon, but corrosion could wipe chats.

Her Response: During questioning, Tomer-Yerushalmi claimed amnesia about the phone's fate and her whereabouts, per Channel 12. She's undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Broader Fallout

Political Storm: Right-wing figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir hail it as a "deep state collapse"; opposition calls it a "witch hunt" against IDF legal independence.

Beitar Jerusalem fans displayed a Hamas-uniform caricature of her at a match.

IDF Impact: Katz strips her rank; probe implicates senior military prosecutors. Five soldiers face trial for the abuse.

Global Echoes: Coverage in The Guardian, Washington Post, BBC, and Al Jazeera questions Israel's rule of law amid the war.

The phone's recovery could unlock chats tying her to the leak. Next hearing: November 5. Police: "All means are being used."