Israel Arrests Five Officials For Alleged Leak Of Hamas Secrets To Foreign Media
The leaked documents reportedly came from Hamas and were the basis for a September report in the Jewish Chronicle, claiming Hamas planned to transfer Israeli hostages from Gaza to Iran via the Sinai.
Five officials, including a military officer named Eli Feldstein, have been arrested in over alleged leaks of classified documents.
Feldstein, 32, served as a spokesperson in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
While Feldstein’s name is public, the identities of the other suspects remain restricted under a gag order, as per Israeli news agency TPS, FOX News reports.
According to Haaretz, four suspects come from a military intelligence unit responsible for preventing leaks.
The leaked documents reportedly came from Hamas and were the basis for a September report in the Jewish Chronicle, claiming Hamas planned to transfer Israeli hostages from Gaza to Iran via the Sinai.
The Chronicle later retracted the story, firing the journalist and calling it “fabricated.”
Germany’s Bild used the documents for another report suggesting Hamas prolonged hostage negotiations to create pressure on Israel.
Channel 12 reported unnamed sources warning the Bild story posed “an ongoing danger” to Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Israel’s Kan broadcaster revealed that the documents were discovered through “another type of intelligence,” not by Israeli forces in Gaza, potentially compromising Israeli intelligence methods.
Authorities are investigating how Feldstein, who lacked proper clearance, accessed both the documents and classified meetings.
Amit Segal, Channel 12’s chief political analyst, explained to Fox News Digital: “For a year, there has been an ongoing debate, both openly and behind the scenes, between Netanyahu and the top security establishment regarding the price to be paid for the hostages.”
At a Tel Aviv press conference, opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz questioned whether Netanyahu had ordered the leaks. Lapid argued, “Netanyahu’s defence is that he has no influence or control over the system he heads. If that’s true, he’s ineligible.”
Political scientist Gideon Rahat added, “Netanyahu is a type of populist leader and nothing will happen from his hardcore followers.”
He also noted that Netanyahu’s support remains steady, at over 30%, adding that “Politics are seen as different today. Politicians are not seen as responsible for what happens under their rule.”
