Israel's High Court Allows Chief Prosecutor to Oversee Sde Teiman Leak Probe

Israel's High Court of Justice has cleared Chief Prosecutor Amit Aisman to lead the investigation into leaked footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility. The Wednesday ruling permits Aisman and his prosecution team to examine the complete police file. They will determine if further investigation is necessary and decide whether to file charges concerning the alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee and a subsequent cover-up. The court's 2-1 decision found no grounds to reject an updated opinion by Justice Ministry legal adviser Yael Kotik, which stated Aisman was no longer disqualified from the criminal case. The petition against Aisman's involvement was filed by the bereaved-families organization Bacharnu B'Haim and two fathers who lost relatives. They had sought to prevent Aisman and the prosecution from handling the case, requested more time for Justice Minister Yariv Levin to appoint an external supervisor, and pushed for specific investigative actions by the police. The court maintained a restriction on Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who, along with Aisman and other senior officials, had been initially excluded due to potential testimony requirements regarding an earlier review. The investigation stems from footage broadcast in August 2024, which appeared to show IDF reservists mistreating a detainee at Sde Teiman. Allegations also surfaced regarding the concealment of the leak's source. Former military advocate-general Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi acknowledged in October 2025 that she had authorized the footage's release. The indictment against the reservists was withdrawn in March, citing the detainee's release to Gaza under a hostage agreement and evidentiary challenges. The court had previously ruled that Levin could appoint a senior civil servant as supervisor, subject to restrictions against political influence. However, Levin's initial appointment of Judicial Complaints Commissioner Asher Kula was rejected by the court, as was the subsequent appointment of retired judge Yosef Ben-Hamo due to eligibility issues. Following these rejections, the investigation proceeded under senior police supervision.

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The ruling allows Aisman and his prosecution team to continue reviewing the full police file, determine whether further investigation is needed, and decide whether charges should be filed.