Middle East Crisis Gaza War

Rearrest of Military Prosecutor-General – to be constantly monitored

Israel's military prosecutor-general is being re-arrested on suspicion of fraud, obstruction of justice and abuse of power. Israeli media reports.

Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi has claimed responsibility for a leak of a video showing soldiers abusing Palestinian prisoners. She herself says the intention was to "disprove false propaganda", according to the Jerusalem Post.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the leak has caused "immeasurable damage" to Israel, writes The Guardian.

According to Al Jazeera's correspondent, the enormous focus on Tomer-Yerushalmi overshadows the interest in the abuses she exposed, "despite the fact that, according to the UN, these types of crimes are being committed systematically".

Police suspect that Tomer-Yerushalmi threw her mobile phone into the sea to destroy evidence, according to the Times of Israel. Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has decided that the major general will be constantly monitored in custody.

Israeli bill on death penalty moves forward

A bill on the death penalty for those who commit a “nationalistically motivated murder” has been given the green light by the security committee in the Israeli Knesset. This is reported by Haaretz.

According to Gal Hirsch, the government’s coordinator for hostage issues, the proposal has the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hirsch calls the controversial law “a tool in the fight against terrorism”.

If the law becomes a reality, it means in practice that Palestinians convicted of murder in Israel can be executed. The same does not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians, writes TT.

Israel has returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians

Israel has returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians to Gaza, the day after Hamas returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers killed on October 7, 2023, reports the AP.

In total, Israel has now returned the remains of 270 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, while Hamas has returned the remains of 20 hostages.

Only 75 Palestinians have so far been identified among the bodies. Gaza's health ministry says the work is slow due to a shortage of DNA testing kits. The agency, which is under Hamas, has published images of the remains online in the hope that relatives will recognize them.

Doctors have previously testified that the Palestinian bodies that have been returned are so badly mutilated by torture that they are impossible to identify.

The three Israeli soldiers have been identified as Omer Neutra, Oz Daniel and Assaf Hamami. Neutra also had American citizenship.