Police and Zaka Divers Continue Search for Missing Phone of Former Military Advocate General

A search is underway Tuesday morning at Hatzuk Beach in Tel Aviv for the missing phone of former Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. (res.) Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, as police continue to investigate her role in the Sde Teiman affair. Divers from the Israel Police and ZAKA have joined the effort, setting up a command post along the shore.

The search follows Tomer-Yerushalmi’s brief disappearance Sunday, when she was found wet and disoriented near the coast after several hours in which she was feared to have harmed herself. Her phone, however, was never recovered. Investigators suspect she may have intentionally thrown it into the sea to destroy evidence related to the ongoing case.

Police believe the phone could contain crucial messages and records linked to the 2024 leak of a video showing the alleged abuse of a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility. Tomer-Yerushalmi has admitted to authorizing the leak while serving as the IDF’s top legal officer but is also suspected of obstructing the subsequent investigation and lying to investigators.

According to Ynet, ZAKA’s Tel Aviv division dispatched a large team, including divers, “at the request of security forces.” “The divers’ activity is not part of ZAKA’s official rescue operations,” the group said, emphasizing that its unit of about 200 divers is normally dedicated to life-saving and recovery missions.

The confusion over ZAKA’s role has not stopped volunteers and independent searchers from joining the hunt. On Monday, hobbyists armed with metal detectors arrived at the beach after social-media users offered cash rewards for whoever finds the missing device. One of the participants told Ynet he located a phone at the same spot where police found Tomer-Yerushalmi but later confirmed it was not hers.

Videos circulating online Tuesday morning show divers entering the water as security forces coordinate the search from the shore. A temporary command post has been set up at the site to guide the effort.

Police have not commented publicly on the latest stage of the search, and neither the IDF nor the Shin Bet has issued statements about their involvement. Tomer-Yerushalmi remains in custody following a court ruling Monday that extended her detention “until further notice.” The former military prosecutor has told investigators she does not remember what she did with her phone. As of Tuesday afternoon, divers are still combing the waters off Hatzuk Beach in hopes of locating the phone.