Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is at the center of a new political storm related to the hostage trade in the Gaza war after several people were arrested on suspicion of leaking classified documents from the prime minister’s office.
An Israeli court announced the arrests on Friday afternoon, before the start of the Sabbath, in a joint investigation by police, internal security services and the military on suspicion of “violating national security by illegally providing classified information.” . It also “hurt Israel’s achievement of its war objectives.”
One of those arrested is believed to be the prime minister’s press secretary.
Although most details remain subject to a partial gag order, Israeli media reported that the war objective in question was the release of 101 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The suspects selectively leaked Hamas strategic documents discovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip and manipulated the materials to make it appear as if the Palestinian militants were trying to smuggle hostages to Egypt and then Iran. or allegedly edited. Or Yemen.
In September, Prime Minister Netanyahu made this claim in interviews and press conferences in support of a new demand in negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement: the need for Israeli forces to remain on the Gaza-Egyptian border. This demand was rejected by Hamas on the basis that it was not part of the terms that both sides had already conditionally accepted, and was the main reason why months of negotiations failed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been repeatedly accused of delaying the deal to avoid the collapse of his coalition government. Anything short of an outright victory over Hamas would be anathema to his far-right allies, who said the best way to avoid prosecution in 2019 fraud, bribery and breach of trust cases was to remain in office. It is believed that this is the case. He denies any wrongdoing. .
Shortly after Israeli leaders first mentioned the alleged Hamas plan, reports apparently based on the same doctored material were published in the British news outlet Jewish Chronicle and the German tabloid Bild. , was widely covered in Israeli media.
Concerned that publication of the article would jeopardize intelligence-gathering operations in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military launched an investigation into the leak and announced that it had “no knowledge that such a document existed.” The Jewish Chronicle later retracted the article and fired the journalist who wrote it.
The prime minister’s office said Friday that no one who worked for Netanyahu had been questioned or detained, but on Saturday it did not rule out a leak from Netanyahu’s office. Dozens of other leaks related to ceasefires and hostage release negotiations have appeared in media reports without triggering investigations, the report said.
The charges are understood to relate to the leaking of confidential documents, negligent handling of confidential documents, use of documents to influence public opinion and improper employment of advisers without sufficient confidential information. There is.
News of the arrest has outraged the prime minister’s critics in the politically divided country. On Saturday night, thousands of people across Israel took part in what is now a weekly demonstration in support of the deal.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote of X: “While there are formidable enemies abroad, dangers from within and from the most sensitive decision-making centers shake the foundations of Israeli public trust in the war effort. Even in dealing with it.”
