Hours after Katz forbade IDF’s top lawyer’s attendance at conference, military says it gave approval days ago

By Stav Levaton

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25 May 2025, 2:35 pm 1 Edit

Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel

Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi attends a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, August 11, 2024. (Noam Moskowitz, Office of the Knesset Spokesperson)

The IDF confirms that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir approved Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi’s participation in the Israel Bar Association conference several days ago, citing the importance of publicly explaining the IDF’s efforts to uphold international law during the ongoing war.

According to the military, Tomer-Yerushalmi was set to discuss how legal frameworks enable the IDF to fight Hamas while remaining within the bounds of international law.

The IDF adds that the Military Advocate General’s office has supported commanders throughout the war to help lawfully achieve operational objectives.

The statement comes hours after Defense Minister Israel Katz said he is forbidding her from participating in the conference.