Israel investigates leaks that may have bolstered Netanyahu as Gaza truce talks stalled

An Israeli court on Sunday loosened a gag order on a case investigating leaks of classified information suspected to involve one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s media advisers. Critics say the leaks were aimed at giving Netanyahu political cover as Gaza ceasefire talks ground to a halt.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing, playing down the affair and publicly calling for the gag order to be lifted. Netanyahu has said the person in question “never participated in security discussions, was not exposed to or received classified information, and did not take part in secret visits”.

On Sunday, an Israeli court allowed the publication of the name of the central suspect in the case, Eli Feldstein, whom Israeli media said was one of Netanyahu’s media advisers.

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

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