Israeli army investigating leaks of alleged Hamas documents to foreign press

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army is investigating leaks of documents allegedly attributed to Palestinian group Hamas to foreign media, according to local media on Tuesday.

Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said an internal investigation was launched by the army after documents allegedly obtained from Gaza were leaked to foreign press in an alleged attempt to influence public opinion on hostage swap negotiations with Hamas.

The outlet said the leaks of the documents enhance Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline position on the swap negotiations with Hamas.

"This issue is expected to increase tensions between the security establishment and Netanyahu, which have already reached a new peak following their deep disagreement over a deal,” it added.

While the army backs efforts to reach a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, Netanyahu opposes any halt of the ongoing war on Gaza.

The Israeli premier also insists on maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border, a position vehemently rejected by Cairo.

An alleged Hamas document published by German newspaper Bild allegedly speaks about an action plan by the Palestinian group to pressure Israel, perpetuate divisions among Israeli public to help its top leaders to escape from Gaza through the Philadelphi Corridor border area.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli army examined the alleged document published by Bild and “found that it was not written by Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, but was a proposal from a mid-level Hamas official."

"While the document does not contain what the German newspaper said was a quote claiming that Hamas was not interested in the deal,” it added.

London-based weekly The Jewish Chronicle also claimed that it obtained documents alleging that Hamas was planning to smuggle Israelis held captive in Gaza to Iran.

“An examination of all the databases of seized materials collected since the start of the ground maneuver in Gaza revealed that no one in the military intelligence unit to which this material is directed, and the intelligence community in general, has any idea about it or who is behind it,” Yedioth Ahronoth said.

The outlet, citing an Israeli military official familiar with the details of the investigation, said: “This is a very serious matter.”

“There are systems in the army and other intelligence agencies whose mission is to influence the enemy, but according to the law it is forbidden to attempt to operate such a system to influence, and certainly not by the superficial use of classified materials that were not allowed to be distributed to the public at all,” the official said.

“This is a campaign to influence the Israeli public. We are not dealing with politics, but with a completely wrong move, and we are determined to find the person or party behind it,” he claimed.

There has been no comment from Hamas on the alleged leaked documents.

For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war.

Security officials, opposition figures, and families of Israeli hostages in Gaza have accused Netanyahu of obstructing a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, fearing it could lead to the collapse of his governing coalition and his loss of power. They have been calling for his resignation.

Israel has continued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 41,000 people, mostly women and children, have since been killed and nearly 95,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar