Hostage families outraged by alleged revelations from prime minister's office

The arrest of a former Netanyahu aide over an alleged security breach has fueled public outrage and calls for accountability

The arrest of Eli Feldstein, a former spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and previously National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has sparked a wave of political controversy and public outrage in Israel as he is accused of leaking classified military information to the press. Feldstein, who is suspected of leaking confidential Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence information to foreign media, is accused of actions that may have jeopardized efforts to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The situation has drawn strong criticism from opposition leaders and the hostages' families, who claim the leaks have threatened national security and may have hampered delicate negotiations over a ceasefire and the release of prisoners.

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court imposed a gag order on the investigation, which was only partially lifted on Sunday, allowing limited details of the case to be disclosed. The court announced that the information allegedly leaked by Feldstein was taken from IDF systems and shared illegally, potentially damaging national security and endangering sensitive intelligence sources. The investigation is ongoing, involving the Shin Bet, the IDF and the Israeli police. Three other suspects, also from the defense sector, are reportedly being investigated.

Netanyahu has denied that his office was involved in any wrongdoing and claimed he learned of the leak from media reports. The prime minister's office further distanced itself from Feldstein, claiming he “never participated in security discussions” or had access to classified intelligence information. It rejected claims that the leak had influenced the hostage-taking negotiations, calling them “ridiculous” and claiming that the information was “helpful. “The effort was great and certainly did not harm him.”

The information allegedly leaked by Feldstein first appeared in articles in the German Bild newspaper and the British Jewish Chronicle in early September. These articles laid out Hamas' alleged strategy in the ongoing negotiations, including tactics of moving hostages from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and using psychological warfare to pressure the Israeli government into a ceasefire agreement. The reports appeared to be consistent with Netanyahu's public stance, which blamed the stalled negotiations on Hamas while emphasizing Israel's security needs in Gaza.

These people live on a rollercoaster ride of rumors and half-truths

During this time, the United States, Qatar and Egypt mediated talks between Israel and Hamas, seeking a framework for a ceasefire and possible release of hostages. Both sides ultimately accused each other of hindering progress. Frustrated by the hostage families' lack of freedom of movement, journalists joined a petition to lift the confidentiality requirement in the Feldstein case. “These people are living on a roller coaster of rumors and half-truths,” said Dana Pugach, an attorney representing the families. “For a year they have been waiting for intelligence information or information about negotiations to release these hostages.”

The issue took on added urgency after six dead Israeli hostages were discovered in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza in early September. The incident sparked widespread protests in Israel and increased calls for government accountability. Many accused Netanyahu of blocking a possible ceasefire deal to maintain political advantage. The families' appeal underscored their demands for transparency in negotiations and an immediate decision to bring their loved ones home.

The controversy surrounding Feldstein's alleged leak also led to strong criticism from opposition leaders. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu's office of “leaking fake secret documents to torpedo the possibility of a hostage deal – to launch an operation to influence public opinion against the families of the hostages.” Lapid questioned Netanyahu's claims that he knew nothing about his staff's actions. “If Netanyahu knew, he would be involved in one of the most serious security offenses on the statute book,” he said. “If he didn’t know…then what does he know?”

If Netanyahu knew, he would be involved in one of the world's worst security crimes

Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party and a former member of Netanyahu's war cabinet, expressed similar concerns. “Contrary to the impression they are trying to give in the Prime Minister's Office, this is not the case [a case about] “There is suspicion of a leak, but of exploitation of state secrets for political purposes,” Gantz noted. “When sensitive security information is stolen and used as a political survival tool, it is not just a crime; it is a national crime.”

When sensitive security information is stolen and used as a political survival tool, it is not just a crime; it is a national crime

Feldstein's family and supporters have defended him, calling the allegations unwarranted political slander. His sister Tzvia described Feldstein as a “victim of an embarrassing and disgraceful political turn” and characterized him as “a talented, sharp and witty guy… a pure heart who spreads only good around him.” Associates claim Feldstein is “loyal to Netanyahu like a soldier” and feel betrayed by the Prime Minister’s Office for distancing itself from him. “The fact that they rejected him and disowned him the moment the affair came to light will backfire on them,” one employee commented.

In parallel, Israeli authorities are assessing whether the information leaked by Feldstein poses a direct threat to national security or risks exposing intelligence gathering methods. Prosecutors reportedly fear that details from the leak could reveal critical IDF techniques and potentially strengthen Hamas in the ongoing conflict. The court emphasized that any further public disclosure could jeopardize the investigation and jeopardize state security.

The scandal has heightened scrutiny of Netanyahu's leadership at an already turbulent time. The Gaza conflict erupted after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of 251 hostages. The ensuing Israeli retaliation has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and left large swaths of the Gaza Strip in ruins, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

The alleged leak came at a difficult time in Israeli politics, with ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations accompanied by almost daily protests. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets demanding the government reach an agreement with Hamas and return the hostages to Israel. Tensions reached a peak on September 1 when the Israeli military announced the discovery of six hostage bodies in Gaza – four of which were to be released in the first phase of a possible deal. This announcement has increased the urgency of the hostage crisis and increased pressure on the government to find a solution.

In a news conference on September 4, Netanyahu defended Israeli control of the Philadelphia Corridor, a key stretch along the Gaza-Egypt border, citing the need to prevent the smuggling of hostages and weapons. “They can easily smuggle hostages here to the Sinai Desert in Egypt; They are disappearing,” Netanyahu said. “You don’t even have to go underground. They disappear in Sinai and then end up in Iran or Yemen. They are gone forever.” He added: “So if you want to release the hostages, you have to control the Philadelphia corridor.”

Around the same time, Jewish Chronicle published a report alleging that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar planned to smuggle hostages through the Philadelphi Corridor to Egypt and from there to Iran. The now-removed article was widely shared on social media by Netanyahu's son Yair. Shortly thereafter, Bild published an article citing a document allegedly found on Sinwar's computer that described Hamas's strategy of prolonging the conflict as a means of exhausting the Israeli military. The IDF later clarified that the document cited by Bild was an old report and was “written as a recommendation by middle ranks of Hamas and not by Sinwar.”

As the investigation into Feldstein's actions progresses, public frustration continues to grow. Judge Menahem Mizrahi, who oversaw the case, stressed the need for a “focused and highly professional investigation” without interference. Meanwhile, opposition figures including Gantz and Lapid are pushing for a state commission to investigate the entire case and examine the government's response to the Gaza war. “When sensitive security information is stolen and becomes the tool of a political survival campaign, it is not just a crime; “It’s a national crime,” Gantz said.

The prime minister's office has downplayed the seriousness of the investigation, claiming that Feldstein's alleged revelations had no impact on the hostage negotiations and that Netanyahu only learned of the affair through the media. However, the investigation remains under strict judicial supervision and has national security implications that could affect Netanyahu's political future.

The Israeli public is following developments closely, as the results of the investigation could have significant consequences for the country's internal security and its strategies in dealing with Hamas. As both the legal and political implications of the alleged leak unfold, the issue highlights the high risk of Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas and the government's response to the country's hostage crisis.