What's happened
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides are under investigation for allegedly leaking classified documents and altering official records related to the October 7 Hamas attack. The inquiry raises questions about Netanyahu's knowledge of the attack and his administration's handling of the crisis amid ongoing legal troubles for the prime minister.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Isabel Kershner in the New York Times, the investigation into Netanyahu's aides centers on allegations of leaking classified documents to foreign media to influence public opinion. Kershner notes that the judge's ruling highlighted the intent behind these actions, suggesting a deliberate effort to sway public sentiment regarding hostage negotiations. Meanwhile, Jason Burke from The Guardian reports that Netanyahu's chief of staff is suspected of altering call records to protect the prime minister's image during the initial hours of the Hamas attack. Burke emphasizes that these allegations come amid a broader inquiry into Netanyahu's leadership failures, which have sparked significant public outcry. The contrasting perspectives from these sources illustrate the gravity of the situation and the potential implications for Netanyahu's political future.
How we got here
The investigation stems from allegations that Netanyahu's aides manipulated records to bolster his reputation during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. This follows a series of legal challenges facing Netanyahu, including corruption charges and public scrutiny over his leadership during the war.
More on these topics
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Gaza may refer to:
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Bild is a German tabloid newspaper published by Axel Springer SE. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday; on Sundays, its sister paper Bild am Sonntag is published instead, which has a different style and its own editors.
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Yahya Sinwar is the current Palestinian leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, having taken over from Ismail Haniyeh in February 2017. He was one of the co-founders of the security apparatus of Hamas. He is the second most powerful figure within Hamas.