Alleged leak A scandal that 'put lives at risk'

Benjamin Netanyahu is known to be image-obsessed and anxious to stay in office, which he sees as the best way of avoiding prosecution for longstanding corruption charges, which he denies.

- Bethan McKernan

Israel's prime minister has been accused, at home and abroad, of stalling on a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza to appease his far-right coalition partners, who could collapse his government. It is also alleged that he is willing to prolong and expand Israel's wars in the region to put off accountability for the intelligence and security failures of 7 October 2023.

An alleged leak from his office of classified military information to two news outlets has led to five arrests because it may have harmed the chances of a deal. The material appears to have been edited or manipulated to favour Netanyahu's stance on hostage talks.

How did all of this begin?

In the summer, Netanyahu added a controversial demand in the hostage and ceasefire talks after a conditional framework had already been reached - that Israeli troops remain on the Gaza-Egypt border. The new ultimatum was met with some surprise by Israel's security establishment, which did not consider it essential. It was rejected by Hamas, and the talks foundered.