Israel is investigating leaks that may have strengthened Netanyahu as Gaza ceasefire talks stalled

An Israeli court on Sunday relaxed a gag order in a case investigating the leak of classified information suspected to have involved one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's media advisers. Critics say the leaks were aimed at giving Netanyahu political cover as talks on a ceasefire in Gaza stalled.

Netanyahu denied any wrongdoing, downplayed the matter and publicly called for the confidentiality agreement to be lifted. Netanyahu said the person in question “never took part in security talks, did not receive or receive any confidential information and did not take part in secret visits.”

According to Israeli media reports, the case involves the leak of classified information to two European media outlets, allegedly by Feldstein, who may not have been formally employed and did not have a security clearance.

The media reported that Feldstein joined Netanyahu as an adviser weeks after the October 7, 2023 attacks and had previously worked as an adviser to the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.