Israeli police have arrested one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top aides. The aide allegedly leaked classified information to foreign media that may have harmed efforts to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Opposition leaders say the intelligence was faked and it was a way to make Netanyahu look better after not having come to a cease-fire deal in Gaza.
The investigation centers on allegations that the prime minister’s office told foreign media Hamas planned on smuggling the hostages out of Gaza over the Egyptian border and creating divisions in Israeli society to pressure Netanyahu into a hostage release and cease-fire deal.
Netanyahu denied having anything to do with the case and a spokesperson denied there had been any leaks from the prime minister’s office. The spokesperson also said the idea of a leak impacting hostage release negotiation with Hamas was “ridiculous.”
Hostage families have accused Netanyahu of repeatedly impeding an agreement with Hamas. They claim Netanyahu worries an end to the Gaza war would force the prime minister to hold elections.
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