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An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing possible indictment for allegedly leaking highly sensitive military information during the Gaza conflict. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced that Jonatan Urich, a longtime adviser to Netanyahu, is under investigation along with another aide. They are accused of extracting classified material from the Israeli military and sharing it with the German newspaper Bild.
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The leak reportedly occurred during a tense period in August 2024 when six Israeli hostages were killed by their Palestinian captors in Gaza. The deaths led to nationwide protests and intense backlash from the hostages' families, who accused Netanyahu of stalling ceasefire negotiations for political reasons.
The Bild article, which surfaced shortly after the hostages’ deaths, detailed Hamas' negotiation tactics and echoed Netanyahu's stance that the militant group was responsible for the breakdown in ceasefire talks. Legal authorities now believe the leak was intended to shape public opinion in Netanyahu’s favor.
Netanyahu has condemned the indictment move, calling it "appalling" and politically motivated. He insists that Urich did not harm national security. Urich’s legal team echoed these claims, arguing that the charges are baseless and asserting his innocence.
The fallout from the alleged leak is deepening Israel’s political divide. Netanyahu’s critics see the indictment as a necessary accountability step, while his supporters believe it's part of a broader political campaign against him and his allies.
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Attorney General Baharav-Miara, appointed by the previous government, has had several confrontations with Netanyahu's cabinet over the legality of controversial policies. The prime minister's government has been openly trying to remove her from office.
The Bild article's authenticity has not been questioned, and the newspaper maintains it does not comment on sources. It remains unclear whether the material came directly from Netanyahu’s aides. A defense official confirmed that four of the six killed hostages were among those Hamas had been prepared to release as part of a proposed ceasefire agreement.
Although a temporary ceasefire was reached in January 2025 resulting in the release of 38 hostages Israel resumed military operations afterward. Currently, indirect negotiations continue in Doha to seek another truce.The legal proceedings against Urich could have significant political consequences as they unfold amid Israel’s ongoing war and sensitive hostilities in Gaza.
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