Capt. Tomer Eiges has been named as the IDF intelligence officer from Unit 8200 who died under mysterious circumstances in a military prison in 2021, following a Military Court of Appeals ruling announced on Saturday.
The identification was ordered by Maj.-Gen. Orly Markman, president of the Military Court of Appeals, following a request from Storyline Productions and journalist Omri Asenheim.
Haifa-native Eiges studied at the Hebrew Reali School, and, while still in high school, earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Haifa.
Prior to enlisting in the IDF, Eiges worked as a software developer at a startup company in Tel Aviv, where he received much recognition from key industry figures.
Eiges had advanced skills in information security, signal analysis, and algorithm development, and was fluent in Hebrew, English, Spanish, Russian, and Persian.
He enlisted in the Intelligence Corps in March 2016, where he served as an academic professional officer (KMA) and later as a senior academic officer (KAB).
During his service, he made significant contributions to Israeli security, received numerous certificates of appreciation, and was a key figure on a team that won the prestigious annual Israel Defense Prize.
Eiges's mysterious death
On the evening of May 17, 2021, Eiges died under circumstances which remain unknown.
As an expression of solidarity with the Eiges family, the University of Haifa established a scholarship fund in his name, which received donations from hundreds of individuals and companies.
According to IDF information released over the years since his death, the previously unnamed officer, Eiges, was accused of consciously and independently committing serious security offenses.
Investigation into Eiges’s actions revealed that he acted for personal reasons, without any ideological, nationalistic, or economic motivations, but with a deep understanding of the potential for serious damage to Israeli security.
The IDF claimed that Eiges attempted to conceal his actions, which led to the filing of a serious indictment against him and his prolonged detention in a military prison facility under strict security and almost complete social isolation.
The Eiges family has harshly criticized the defense establishment, and claimed that his death was caused by negligent and abusive conduct on the part of the military authorities.
According to the family, Eiges received medical treatment during his detention that damaged his physical and mental condition, which they posit ultimately led to his death.
Following Eiges’s death and public criticism of the alleged cover-up of the surrounding circumstances, the IDF appointed two central investigation committees to work on an investigation into the incident.
The Military Intelligence Chief's Committee examined aspects of Eiges's selection and service, and the Military Internment Chief's Committee addressed deficiencies in the military prison system.
The investigation ended with no conclusion from the Military Attorney's Office regarding the alleged medical and command negligence. However, some individuals involved in the incident were reprimanded and subject to disciplinary action.
Despite an additional investigation by the Internal Investigations Unit and an examination by an advisory team from the Israel Police, no indication of foul play was uncovered, and the exact circumstances of his death remain unknown.
The Military Attorney's Office has not yet finalized its conclusion regarding Eiges’s death.