OUTRAGE: Israeli Prosecution Summons Hamas Supporter to Testify Against Oct. 7 Combat Officers
A Palestinian man found with illegal weapons and Hamas propaganda on his phone was called as a key witness against Yasam officers Saar Ophir and Tiran Galmodi.
n a move that has sparked widespread public and political fury, the State Attorney’s Office has summoned a Hamas-affiliated Palestinian resident of Judea and Samaria to testify against Israeli police officers. The witness appeared at the Central District Court in Lod to testify against Yasam (Special Patrol Unit) officers Tiran Galmodi and Saar Ophir, both of whom were among the first responders who fought bravely during the October 7 massacre.
The Controversy Behind the Witness
The witness in question was previously detained for questioning. According to evidence presented in the case, a search of his mobile phone revealed disturbing content, including:
Despite these findings, the prosecution is relying on his testimony to build a case against the officers, who are accused of assaulting him during his detention.
Tiran Galmodi and Saar Ophir, along with a third individual, Dvir On, are being prosecuted for their conduct during the intense period following the October 7 attacks. While the prosecution pursues the assault charges, the Israeli public has largely viewed the officers as heroes who risked their lives to defend the country during its darkest hour.
Earlier this week, a significant development occurred when Tiran Galmodi was released to house arrest after spending 13 months in prison. The prosecution notably decided not to appeal Judge Maor Even-Chen’s decision to release him.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 14, Saar Ophir opened up about the harrowing experience of the investigation. He alleged that investigators used extreme psychological pressure to break them.
"They applied a great deal of pressure on us, mainly psychological, to make us trip up on certain points," Ophir revealed. "They took me for 'walks' just to tell me how 'wrong' I was during the combat events [of Oct 7], and they promised me benefits if I would say certain things."
Ophir’s testimony suggests that the investigation sought to discredit the officers’ actions not just during the specific incident with the Palestinian detainee, but also regarding their conduct during the war.
The decision to bring a Hamas-linked individual into an Israeli courtroom to testify against decorated officers has led to a "boiling point" in public discourse. Critics argue that the State Attorney’s Office is undermining the morale of security forces by prioritizing the testimony of terror-affiliated individuals over the credibility of officers who served on the front lines.