Israeli Police Detain Netanyahu’s Chief of Staff in Probe Into Leaked Military Documents

In a significant development that has intensified political and institutional scrutiny in Israel, police on Sunday detained Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff over allegations that he interfered with an investigation into the leak of confidential military intelligence during the Gaza war.

According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, was questioned for several hours before being released under strict conditions. These include a temporary ban on international travel and restrictions on accessing the Prime Minister’s Office.

Earlier in the day, Israeli police confirmed that a senior aide from the Prime Minister’s Office had been arrested on “suspicion of obstructing investigative procedures,” without initially naming the individual. Hebrew-language media later identified the aide as Braverman.

Local reports stated that the questioning was conducted by Lahav 433, Israel’s elite unit responsible for investigating major crimes and corruption. The interrogation reportedly lasted close to 13 hours. Upon his release late Sunday night, Braverman was barred from leaving Israel for 30 days and prohibited from entering the Prime Minister’s Office for a period of 15 days.

The travel restriction could complicate Braverman’s anticipated appointment as Israel’s next ambassador to the United Kingdom, a role that would require immediate overseas engagement.

Omer Mansour, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office who was also summoned for questioning on Sunday, reportedly received similar restrictive conditions, according to Israeli media.

Focus of the Leak Investigation

The investigation centres on sensitive military documents that were allegedly leaked from the Prime Minister’s Office to the German tabloid Bild during the Gaza War. The newspaper later cited the classified material as evidence suggesting that Hamas was unwilling to pursue a hostage agreement to end the crisis triggered by the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.

The primary suspect in the case is Eli Feldstein, a former spokesperson for Netanyahu who was arrested in October 2024 on suspicion of leaking classified intelligence. Feldstein has claimed that Braverman was aware of a covert investigation into the leak months before it became public and had suggested that the probe could be halted.

As part of the ongoing inquiry, Feldstein was brought in on Sunday to confront Braverman directly. According to Channel 12, the face-to-face meeting lasted less than 15 minutes.

Braverman reportedly acknowledged that a meeting may have taken place in the Kirya military headquarters parking lot but denied informing Feldstein about any secret investigation or attempting to obstruct the probe in any way.

The leak scandal emerged during a period of heightened public anger, particularly following the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in Rafah in August 2024. That incident sparked widespread protests against the government and intensified demands for transparency and accountability.

Broader Political and Legal Implications

Feldstein is also implicated in a separate investigation known as the “Qatargate” affair. The case alleges that while working for the Prime Minister’s Office, Feldstein and Jonatan Urich, Netanyahu’s senior media adviser, accepted payments to promote pro-Qatar narratives to journalists.

Taken together, the investigations have placed renewed focus on the internal workings of the Prime Minister’s Office and raised concerns about the safeguarding of classified information during times of war. As legal proceedings continue, the case is expected to further test public trust in Israel’s political leadership and security institutions.