Netanyahu calls Palestinian prisoner abuse leak worst PR crisis in Israel's history

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the leak of footage showing ostensible abuse of a Palestinian prisoner at Sde Teiman “caused enormous reputational damage to Israel, to the IDF, and to our soldiers.” 

“It is perhaps the most serious public-relations attack Israel has experienced since its founding — I cannot recall one so concentrated and intense,” he added, calling for an “independent and impartial inquiry.” 

The remarks came after Military Advocate Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned Thursday, admitting she had leaked the 2024 video.

An Admission of Abuse: Why Israel's Prisoner Torture Scandal is a Legal and Moral Catastrophe

In a stark and revealing moment, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently addressed a leak that has sent shockwaves through the international community. His focus, however, was not primarily on the victim of the abuse, nor on a pledge for swift justice. Instead, he lamented the “enormous reputational damage” caused by footage showing the brutal treatment of a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility. He called the leak “perhaps the most serious public-relations attack Israel has experienced since its founding.”

This response, while framed as a crisis of image, inadvertently underscores a profound legal and humanitarian crisis. The admission, and the subsequent call for an inquiry, exposes a systemic failure that violates the very bedrock of international law and human rights principles.

The Admission in Context

The news story centers on leaked footage from Sde Teiman, a facility reportedly used for the mass detention of Palestinians from Gaza. While the full details of the abuse are harrowing, the Prime Minister’s reaction confirms its severity. By acknowledging the incident and the need for an “independent and impartial inquiry,” the Israeli government has, in effect, conceded that credible evidence of serious misconduct exists.

This moves the conversation from allegation to acknowledgment, shifting the burden from proving whether abuse occurred to explaining how it was allowed to happen and who is responsible.

Violations of International Law: A Clear-Cut Case

The abuse of prisoners, as depicted in the leaked footage, constitutes a direct violation of several pillars of international law:

    The Absolute Prohibition of Torture and Cruel Treatment: The cornerstone of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law is the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. This principle is enshrined in:

•         The Geneva Conventions, which require that all persons hors de combat (including detainees) be treated humanely and protected from violence, outrages upon personal dignity, and torture.
•         The UN Convention Against Torture, to which Israel is a party, which defines torture and obligates states to prevent it.
•         Customary International Law, which applies to all nations regardless of treaty ratification.

    Any form of abuse—be it physical assault, psychological torment, or the deprivation of basic needs—is a clear breach of these binding legal obligations.

    The Duty of Command Responsibility: The call for an inquiry implicitly recognizes that this was not merely the act of a few "bad apples." Under the doctrine of command responsibility, military and political superiors can be held legally accountable for war crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew, or should have known, about the crimes and failed to take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent or punish them. A systemic failure at a detention facility points directly to a breakdown in command and control.

    The Right to a Fair Trial and Due Process: The mass detention of individuals, often without charge or access to legal counsel, itself violates international law. The abuse of these detainees further shreds the principles of due process, presuming guilt and meting out punishment outside of any legal framework.

Significance: Beyond a "PR Attack"

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s framing of the incident as a devastating "public-relations attack" is deeply significant, but for reasons he may not have intended.

    Prioritizing Image Over Justice: This language reveals a primary concern for Israel's international standing rather than for the victims, the rule of law, or the moral integrity of its institutions. It treats the exposure of the crime as the problem, rather than the crime itself.

    Erosion of Moral Authority: For a state that presents itself as a democracy operating under the rule of law, such admissions fundamentally undermine its moral and legal credibility. It places Israel in the company of regimes that are routinely condemned for their human rights records.

    A Call for Accountability, Not Just an Inquiry: While an "independent and impartial inquiry" is a necessary first step, history shows that internal investigations can often be tools of obfuscation. True accountability requires that the findings be made public, that those responsible—from the perpetrators to those in the chain of command who enabled the environment—be prosecuted, and that systemic reforms be implemented to prevent recurrence.

A Test of the International Order

The abuse at Sde Teiman is not an isolated incident, but a symptom of a broader context of impunity. The significance of this admission extends far beyond Israel's borders. It is a test for the international community and the institutions designed to uphold human rights.

Will this admission lead to genuine accountability, or will it be managed as a public relations problem and quietly buried? The answer will determine not only the fate of the victims in this case but also the strength of the global commitment to the principle that no state, no army, and no individual is above the law. The true "reputational damage" is not in the leak, but in the acts the leak revealed—and in a failure to address them with the seriousness they demand.