Israel's Netanyahu calls for an investigation into security vulnerabilities amid the growing scandal

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an urgent investigation into a series of serious leaks about state secrets since the start of the Gaza war.

The leaks have led to a scandal involving officials in his office, including his security spokesman.

The controversy escalated on Monday when Israeli authorities arrested an army officer identified as a major on suspicion of leaking classified documents from Netanyahu's office.

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the investigation began after it was discovered that sensitive intelligence information had been unlawfully published in the media, potentially endangering national security and compromising intelligence sources.

In a post on social media platform X, Netanyahu attached a copy of his formal request to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara calling for an immediate investigation.

“Since the beginning of the war, we have witnessed a spate of serious leaks revealing state secrets,” he wrote, without mentioning specific details about his office.

Netanyahu explained that the leaks originated from several high-level security discussions, including Cabinet meetings, deliberations of the now-disbanded War Council and meetings of the Prisoners and Missing Persons Directorate, as well as security forums.

Secret addendum

In his letter to prosecutor Baharav-Miara, Netanyahu expressed frustration that his repeated calls to investigate the leaks were not met. He added: “During a recent discussion on this issue with Ronen Bar, head of Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency, Bar recommended submitting a formal request to open an investigation.”

Netanyahu called on Baharav-Miara to “immediately order an investigation into the leaks, particularly the serious leaks that I have detailed in the attached addendum.”

According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu's letter included a secret appendix containing key examples of the damaging revelations.

Netanyahu's spokesman was implicated

On Sunday, the Israeli public broadcaster announced that the Rishon LeZion District Court had partially lifted a gag order that revealed the detention of four people in connection with the security leaks.

Among those arrested was Eli Feldstein, Netanyahu's security spokesman, whose prison term was extended.

On Friday, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that a spokesman in Netanyahu's office leaked sensitive material, including fake information and top secret documents, to foreign media.

US-based news site Axios said documents were reportedly leaked to Germany's Bild magazine, a well-known German publication.

The security scandal comes as Israel continues a devastating offensive against Gaza since an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in October last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Since then, nearly 43,300 people, mostly women and children, have been killed and over 102,260 others have been injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel is also facing genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio

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