In a dramatic turn of events in the Israeli political landscape, police have arrested a senior aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid allegations of leaking classified information to foreign media. The aide, Eliezer Feldstein, is under scrutiny for purportedly sharing sensitive intelligence that opposition leaders now claim is “faked.”
The investigation has revealed a potential attempt to manipulate the narrative surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Reports indicate that Feldstein is one of several individuals being interrogated regarding claims that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) disseminated unfounded assertions to the media. Specifically, the allegations suggest that Hamas was planning to smuggle hostages out of Gaza into Egypt, a move designed to instigate societal divisions within Israel and pressure Netanyahu into negotiating a hostage release and ceasefire.
Court documents released on Sunday indicate that the leaked information was taken from Israeli military systems, and the potentially damaging data was described as “illegally issued.” According to these documents, such leaks may have jeopardised Israel’s efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In response to these serious allegations, a spokesperson for Netanyahu has categorically denied the existence of any leaks from the PMO. The spokesperson asserted that “the person in question never participated in security-related discussions,” seemingly referring directly to Feldstein. This statement raises further questions about the credibility of the intelligence shared by the Israeli government.
As the investigation continues, the implications of this incident could resonate deeply within the Israeli political landscape. The tensions surrounding the Gaza conflict and the recent controversies related to hostage negotiations make this situation all the more critical. The unfolding events could set a precedent for future government transparency regarding national security matters.