Israeli army refutes Netanyahu’s claims of withholding information

The Israeli military dismissed allegations made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the army concealed sensitive information from him regarding an investigation into leaked classified documents.

In a statement, military spokesperson Daniel Hagari asserted that the Israeli army operates under the directives of the Prime Minister, emphasizing, “The army acts for the state’s security under his instructions.” Hagari denied withholding any details from Netanyahu, countering claims the Prime Minister raised in a video posted on his X account last Saturday.

Netanyahu’s accusations emerged amid an ongoing investigation into the leak of classified documents from the Prime Minister’s Office. He alleged that critical information linked to the investigation was intentionally kept from him. The inquiry has so far led to the detention of five individuals, including Eliezer Feldstein, a close aide to Netanyahu. Netanyahu described Feldstein as a “patriot” who would not compromise Israel’s security.

Hagari responded to questions from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz by reiterating that the Prime Minister’s Office has full access to all authorized information, adding, “Any suggestion to the contrary is false.”

The investigation centers on claims that manipulated documents attributed to Hamas were leaked to foreign outlets by the Prime Minister’s Office to influence public opinion. Reports of these documents were published by Germany’s Bild newspaper and the UK-based Jewish Chronicle.

The Jewish Chronicle reported that the documents, allegedly seized by Israeli forces in Gaza, suggested that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar planned to smuggle Israeli hostages out of Gaza via Egypt. Meanwhile, Bild stated that the materials pointed to Hamas’s intention to prolong negotiations over prisoner exchanges and ceasefires as part of a psychological warfare strategy.

Israeli media highlighted growing tensions between Netanyahu’s administration and the military establishment. Analysts described the fallout as contributing to significant “concern and outrage” within Israel’s security community, raising fears of escalating friction between the Prime Minister and defense officials.