Several suspects have been detained for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged leak of confidential documents from Netanyahu’s office.
Several suspects have been detained in an investigation launched into allegations that classified documents were leaked from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rishon LeZion Judge Menachem Mizrahi announced that the leak in question was being investigated by Israel’s domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, the Israeli police, and the Defense Forces on suspicion of “harming Israel’s war aims.”
According to the Times of Israel, Mizrahi confirmed that Israel’s internal intelligence agency Shin-Bet, Israeli police, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had moved to the “open phase” of the investigation, adding that there was suspicion of a “violation of national security resulting from the illegal acquisition of classified information” in the incident.
The judge said the leak “posed a risk to sensitive information and intelligence sources” and harmed efforts to fulfill “the objectives of the war in the Gaza Strip.”
While the judge did not disclose the identities of the suspects taken into custody, reports in the Israeli press claimed that among the suspects were those who worked for Netanyahu.
“As usual, Netanyahu is trying to distance himself from the incident and put the blame on others, but the facts show the opposite. He is personally responsible for every piece of conflict paper, word or piece of information that comes out of his office,” opposition Yesh Atid Party Leader Yair Lapid said on social media.
Noting that they have formidable enemies abroad, Lapid said, “However, the danger coming from within and from the most sensitive decision-making centers is shaking the foundations of Israeli citizens’ trust in the conduct of the war and the handling of the most sensitive security issues.”
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that no office workers were detained as part of the investigation. Some analysts said Netanyahu had assistants working for him but that they were not officially employed by the Presidential Office.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, the leaked documents allegedly related to a possible hostage deal with Hamas. The report alleged that the suspects selectively leaked and distorted documents that the IDF had seized regarding Hamas’ strategies in the hostage swap talks.
According to The Guardian Now an Israeli open-source operation titled ‘Fake Reporter’ stated that the identified surveillance campaign was used to collect the data set of 100 individuals who were in the secret military bases.
