Reported in the media
Prime Minister Netanyahu cited to 'justify the war'
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office is embroiled in controversy after signs emerged that classified information related to the Gaza Strip war was deliberately and selectively leaked to the media.
Major Israeli media outlets reported on the 1st (local time) that the Rishon LeZion District Court in Israel has initiated a joint investigation involving the police, domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, and the military into the recent leak of documents from the Prime Minister's Office, with several suspects arrested and interrogated.
The documents stolen from the Prime Minister's Office reportedly contained details about hostage negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas.
German daily Bild and British outlet The Jewish Chronicle reported on Hamas's 'hostage negotiation strategy' based on these documents, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then cited to justify a hardline stance against Hamas and the war.
Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that a key suspect, who is very close to Prime Minister Netanyahu, often briefed reporters on the Prime Minister's Office's position despite lacking official clearance for classified information, and had distributed documents related to Hamas.
The Netanyahu camp dismissed these allegations. The Prime Minister's Office stated in a release, "No staff member has been arrested," and added, "The leaked military intelligence documents were never reported to the Prime Minister's Office; the Prime Minister only learned of them through the media."
They also drew a line regarding the key suspect, saying, "He has never participated in security discussions or accessed classified information within the Prime Minister's Office."
In response, Benny Gantz, leader of the opposition National Unity Party who resigned from the Israeli wartime cabinet in June, criticized on the 2nd in a statement, "The Prime Minister must take full responsibility for what happened in his office."
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