Israeli authorities have taken into custody a high-ranking official from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner circle amid allegations of obstructing a sensitive investigation into military intelligence leaks. The detained individual, identified by local media as Tzachi Braverman—Netanyahu’s current chief of staff and designated ambassador to the United Kingdom—faces serious accusations related to attempts to interfere with a probe concerning classified information disclosures during the Gaza conflict.
According to police statements released Sunday, the senior official was questioned ‘under caution’ regarding suspicions of investigation obstruction. The case centers on allegations that Braverman attempted to influence an ongoing military investigation into how sensitive documents were leaked to foreign media outlets during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The investigation gained momentum following revelations from Eli Feldstein, a former Netanyahu aide currently involved in multiple legal controversies. Feldstein claims that shortly after he leaked a classified military document to German publication Bild in September 2024—an action for which he was subsequently arrested and charged—Braverman approached him with offers to potentially ‘shut down’ the military’s investigation into the matter.
The leaked document in question was reportedly intended to demonstrate Hamas’s reluctance toward ceasefire agreements and bolster Netanyahu’s position that military pressure rather than negotiations represented the most effective means to secure the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel.
Complicating matters further, Feldstein himself remains embroiled in the separate ‘Qatargate’ scandal, wherein Netanyahu associates face allegations of promoting Qatari interests within Israel. While Braverman is not directly implicated in this secondary investigation, the timing of his detention has raised significant political concerns.
In response to these developments, opposition leader Yair Lapid has publicly demanded the immediate suspension of Braverman’s ambassadorial appointment to the UK, arguing that individuals under investigation for security-related offenses should not represent Israel in crucial diplomatic posts. The situation continues to develop as police conduct additional searches and pursue further questioning of involved parties.