PMO spokesman arrested in connection with leaked “Hamas documents”; Prime Minister Netanyahu denies any connection to the suspect

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Israel was arrested last week in connection with the leak of secret documents, including a document said to be from former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The arrests of several suspects were announced on Friday following an investigation by the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, the Israeli police and the Israel Defense Forces.

Judge Menachem Mizrahi of the Rishon Lezion District Court partially lifted a gag order on details of the investigation, stating that “a number of suspects have been detained for questioning and the investigation is ongoing.”

Mizrahi said the information leak posed a risk to Gaza's war goals, including the release of the hostages, due to the sharing of “sensitive information and intelligence sources.”

According to Israeli media, the main suspect is an adviser who worked with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the war.

The PMO released a statement denying any connection between Netanyahu and the suspect and claimed that the leak did not come from the PMO.

“While there were no leaks from the Prime Minister's Office, dozens of leaks were published in Israeli and foreign media, revealing details about negotiations for the return of the hostages, secret Cabinet meetings and other sensitive forums – without anyone being questioned.” I wonder why,” the statement said.

Due to the ongoing investigation, publication of the suspect's name, photo and identifying information is prohibited under the silence order. However, Israeli media has shared some information.

The main suspect worked as an adviser to Netanyahu during the war and took part in government meetings where sensitive information was discussed.

The suspect was apparently behind it stories that appeared in the German magazine Picture and the Jewish Chronicle It described a “secret plan” by late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to smuggle hostages out of Gaza.

The Jewish Chronicle He later retracted the story after it was found to be problematic.

Netanyahu's office released a statement on Saturday evening confirming: “The published document did not reach the Prime Minister's Office at all from military intelligence, and the Prime Minister learned about it from the media.” The person in question never participated in security negotiations, was not disclosed or received confidential information and did not participate in secret visits.”

Sources close to the suspect told Israeli media that he was on tour with Netanyahu several times, traveled extensively with him and took part in important consultations. Hebrew news media published images of Prime Minister Netanyahu with the suspect, whose face was blurred. They showed the two together in many different situations, including what appeared to be security meetings.

According to reports in Hebrew media, the suspect failed the Shin Bet security clearance and has not received a salary from the PMO since April. However, he continued to work with Netanyahu and was seen traveling with him to important meetings as recently as last week.

A source close to the suspect told N12 that Netanyahu's attempt to distance himself from the suspect “is ugly, he has thrown him under the bus.”

Several political analysts said the suspect was allegedly hired by Netanyahu to sow doubts about the IDF and the Shin Bet. The suspect was known to be critical of both and had previously worked with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid rejected Netanyahu's claim that he knew nothing about the leaks.

“The affair goes to the heart of the close ties between the security establishment and the prime minister and his entourage. As usual, the prime minister is already trying to distance himself from the matter and hold others accountable, but the facts are the opposite: he is personally responsible for every paper, every word and every piece of information that comes out of his office,” Lapid said .

Former War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz, another opposition leader, said Netanyahu was responsible for what happened in his office.

“Without going into the details of the matter under investigation involving the activities of the Prime Minister's Office, it is important to emphasize one thing: the Prime Minister is responsible for what happens in his office. What’s good and what’s bad,” Gantz said.

Netanyahu called for the gag order on the investigation to be lifted, saying it “served as a cover for the malicious and deliberate denigration of the office of the prime minister.”