Hostage release deal compromised by internal leak, court says

A top Netanyahu aide was among those arrested and investigated over leaked and falsified documents.

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In its partial lifting of a gagging order, the court in the town of Rishon LeZion said Eli Feldstein and three others were under investigation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing by his staff, but opposition figures and hostage families have accused his government of sabotaging negotiations.

The leaking of the documents – to Britain’s Jewish Chronicle and Germany’s tabloid Bild - came at a crucial time for hostage negotiations.

The documents claimed Hamas was planning to smuggle Israeli hostages to Egypt - intent on scuppering any proposed ceasefire deal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9n02xxexko

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