Court says suspects arrested in relation to PMO documents leak

Opposition head Yair Lapid and National Unity Party head Benny Gantz have placed the blame for the leak of the documents fully on the prime minister.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a memorial ceremony for people who were murdered during the October 7 Massacre, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, October 28, 2024 (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a memorial ceremony for people who were murdered during the October 7 Massacre, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, October 28, 2024
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Several suspects were arrested on Friday in relation to a leak of classified documents from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court announced in a statement.

The announced arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Shin Bet, the police, and the IDF, on suspicions of risking sensitive information and harming the achievement of the war goals in Gaza, Judge Menachem Mizrahi noted in the statement.

The Prime Minister's Office shortly after responded that nobody who was arrested was officially employed by the office. "Contrary to the publications, no one from the office was investigated or arrested," the office said.

A report from Ynet stated that one of the arrested was a spokesman who worked with the Prime Minister's Office. According to that report, he was not defined as an official employee of the PMO. According to suspicions, he did not pass a security clearance, yet he accompanied Netanyahu to discussions in the HaKirya military base and classified military units, and was also exposed to the transcripts of the political-security cabinet and sensitive security discussions.

Political reactions

The National Unity Party responded to the PMO's initial statement claiming there were no leaks of classified documents during the war, with party leader Benny Gantz saying their "Level of credibility: '3,000 ultra-Orthodox were recruited this year.'"

Gantz responded to the incident on X, saying, "Without going into the details of the case under investigation concerning the activities of the Prime Minister's Office, it is important to emphasize one thing - the Prime Minister is the one responsible for what happens in his office. For better or for worse."

 Leader of the National Unity Party MK Benny Gantz leads a faction meeting of the National Unity Party at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on September 29, 2024.  (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Leader of the National Unity Party MK Benny Gantz leads a faction meeting of the National Unity Party at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on September 29, 2024. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also responded to the incident on X, also placing the blame for the leak fully on the prime minister.

"The prime minister is already trying, as usual, to distance himself from the matter and place responsibility on others, but the facts state the opposite: he is personally responsible for every paper, word, and information coming from his office."


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Investigations for additional bureaus are being examined, Israel's Channel 12 reported. The prosecutor's office is investigating, among other things, the leaking of intelligence documents about Sinwar to foreign journalists. Two of Netanyahu's aides consulted with a lawyer at the Prime Minister's Attorney's Office.