JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities arrested five officials late last week, including four from a military intelligence unit, for allegedly revealing state secrets to foreign media.

An Israeli military officer who worked in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was among five people arrested during an investigation into leaked secret documents. The officer, identified as 32-year-old Eli Feldstein, worked in the prime minister’s office as a military spokesman and was one of five suspects arrested late last week. According to the Israeli news agency TPS, the names of the other suspects remain under a gag order.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that four suspects are from a military unit tasked with preventing the leaking of state secrets.

The leaked documents in question were reportedly written by Hamas. They apparently formed the basis for a report in the London-based Jewish Chronicle, which in September reported a plan by Hamas to smuggle Israeli hostages from Gaza to Sinai and transfer them to Iran. The Chronicle later retracted the report and fired the journalist, saying the story was fabricated.

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An Israeli army tank rolls through the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza. (IDF Spokespersons Unit)

The documents also apparently served as the basis for a report in the popular German daily Bild, which suggested that Hamas deliberately initiated hostage negotiations to exert psychological pressure on the Israeli government.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that unnamed sources said the September Bild report “poses an ongoing danger” to the lives of Israeli soldiers and hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the documents were not discovered by Israeli forces in Gaza, but rather by “a different kind of intelligence service.” The case threatens to expose Israel’s intelligence-gathering methods.

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Feldstein is suspected of having received the secret documents before they were reported in the Chronicle and Bild, along with an interpretation that favored Netanyahu, who was under public pressure at the time to agree on a ceasefire -firing and the release of hostages.

Authorities are also investigating why Feldstein, who did not have the proper security clearance, had access not only to the documents but also to secret meetings.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the graduation ceremony of the IDF officer course at the IDF training base. (Ma’ayan Toaf, Israeli government news agency)

Amit Segal, chief political analyst for Israel’s Channel 12, told Fox News Digital: “For a year there has been an ongoing debate, both openly and behind the scenes, between Netanyahu and the top security establishment over the price to be paid for the This battle has been accompanied by leaks, some legal and some not. The Shin Bet is currently investigating whether Netanyahu’s people crossed the line and used classified information as part of this conflict.

He added: “In my opinion, it won’t change anything dramatically in Israel’s political arena. Netanyahu is unlikely to be found involved in the case. It just shows once again the mistrust between the prime minister and the security establishment.”

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At a joint press conference in Tel Aviv, opposition party leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz questioned whether the leak took place on Netanyahu’s orders. “Netanyahu’s defense is that he has no influence or control over the system he leads. If that’s true, he doesn’t qualify. He is not qualified to lead the State of Israel in the most difficult war in its history,” Lapid said. “This case came from the Prime Minister’s Office and the investigation must determine whether this was not on the Prime Minister’s orders.”

Gideon Rahat, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, echoed Segal’s analysis that the leaks will not hurt Netanyahu. He told Fox News Digital that “Netanyahu is some kind of populist leader and nothing will happen to his hardcore followers. He will use it for his own gain and then say the deep state is after him.”

People, including the families of hostages, walk to the front with “Bring them home now” signs during the Israel Day on Fifth parade on June 2, 2024 in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

The deep state for Netanyahu, according to Rahat, is the Israeli legal system, which Netanyahu considers liberal, and the security service and the army.

Rahat said populism includes the view that “Anything that has to do with investigations and trials is against populist leaders.” Rahat cited an example to demonstrate the differences between the governments of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, a non-populist leader, and Netanyahu.

Olmert did not have “much success in the conduct of the second Lebanon war” against Hezbollah in 2006. His support at the time was only 3%, he noted, adding: “If you look at his failure, it is nothing compared to 7 October.”

The second Lebanon war began with Hezbollah’s kidnapping of several Israeli army soldiers, not the massacre of nearly 1,200 people, Rahat said. Hamas has also kidnapped more than 250 people.

Rahat noted that Netanyahu has more than 30% support and that his electoral base “still keeps him in the game.”

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Within the context of populism, politics is now seen as different. Politicians are not seen as responsible for what happens under their rule, Rahat said.