High Court Hearing on Sde Teiman Probe Disrupted Amid Accusations of Judicial Intimidation

High Court Hearing Descends into Chaos

A High Court of Justice hearing in Jerusalem on Thursday, November 27, 2025, concerning the oversight of the investigation into the Sde Teiman detention facility leak, was significantly disrupted by attendees. The proceedings were halted as individuals, identified as right-wing dissenters, repeatedly hurled insults and yelled at the judges. High Court President Yitzhak Amit condemned the disruptions, stating that such actions constituted 'an infringement on the separation of powers as well as on Israeli democracy.' Security guards were ultimately required to empty the courtroom of most attendees to restore order.

During the disruption, a reservist soldier, who is reportedly charged with severely abusing a Gazan detainee at the military facility, shouted 'You trash, you kapo' at the judges. Likud MK Tally Gotliv was also among those who contributed to the disturbance. President Amit expressed his dismay, noting he was 'not aware of any democratic country where such disruptions occur in its Supreme Court.'

Controversial Appointment at the Heart of the Hearing

The disrupted hearing was addressing petitions challenging Justice Minister Yariv Levin's appointment of retired district court judge Yosef Ben-Hamo to oversee the investigation into the leak of surveillance footage from the Sde Teiman facility. Minister Levin had bypassed Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom he accused of a conflict of interest in the case. The court had previously granted Levin the authority to appoint an overseer, provided the candidate was a senior public official with a background closely connected to criminal investigations.

However, the High Court judges have expressed reservations regarding Ben-Hamo's eligibility, questioning his seniority and experience in criminal proceedings. One of the petitions, filed by The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, alleged that Ben-Hamo has not dealt with criminal investigations 'in recent years' and claimed his appointment was 'another attempt by Levin to find someone who will serve his agenda.'

The Sde Teiman Controversy and Leak

The probe at the center of the hearing stems from the highly controversial Sde Teiman detention facility, a military base in the Negev desert used to hold Palestinian detainees from Gaza. The facility has been the subject of numerous allegations of severe human rights abuses, including torture, inhumane conditions, blindfolding, shackling, medical neglect, and sexual assault. Reports from human rights organizations and whistleblowers have detailed 'unimaginable abuses,' such as surgeries without anesthesia and prolonged restraint leading to amputations.

The investigation was triggered by the leak of surveillance footage purporting to show the abuse of a Gazan prisoner by IDF troops at Sde Teiman. Former Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi admitted to authorizing the leak, stating her intention was to 'counter false propaganda' against the army and the abuse scandal. She was subsequently arrested on suspicion of obstructing justice.

Widespread Condemnation and Calls for Action

The disruptions in the High Court drew strong condemnation from opposition figures. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid described the outburst as 'unbearable and unforgivable,' attributing it to 'toxic incitement against the court' by senior coalition officials. Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz echoed these sentiments, stating that those who disrupted the court were 'not expressing protest' but rather 'trying to intimidate the rule of law,' and called for their arrest. Critics argue that such behavior is a deliberate attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary and erode public trust in the legal process.