What’s New in the Case of the Document Leaks Roiling Israel

An Israeli judge on Sunday revealed more details in a case involving an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and a military officer suspected of leaking and mishandling classified intelligence documents — an accusation that has been roiling the country in the midst of war.

The judge said in his ruling that the leak was intended to influence Israeli public opinion in a way that would reduce popular pressure on Mr. Netanyahu to reach a deal to secure the release of hostages and end the war in Gaza.

State prosecutors also asked the court to extend the detention of the aide, Eliezer Feldstein, and the military officer, who has not been publicly named. The men were arrested last month along with at least two other soldiers, who are being held under house arrest.

What’s the back story?

The Israeli authorities have been pursuing several lines of inquiry in recent weeks involving officials in Mr. Netanyahu’s office and several military officers. They are being investigated for trying to bolster Mr. Netanyahu’s reputation for his handling of the war, by leaking classified military documents, altering official transcripts of his conversations and intimidating people who controlled access to those records.

One strand of the investigation centers on the manipulation and publication of sensitive intelligence information that was leaked to the German newspaper Bild for an article that ran in September. The article cited a Hamas document laying out the group’s plan for psychological warfare against Israel on the hostage issue.

Critics viewed it as part of a disinformation campaign by Mr. Netanyahu or by his supporters, intended to dampen a popular push for the hostages’ release and to influence Israeli public opinion in favor of the prime minister’s negotiating positions.