Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, was detained and questioned by Israeli police on Sunday as part of an investigation into the alleged obstruction of justice concerning a leak of classified military documents. The probe centers on claims that Braverman may have attempted to interfere with an investigation into the dissemination of sensitive information to the media.
Israeli police confirmed that Tzachi Braverman, who also serves as Netanyahu’s chief of staff, was detained for questioning by a unit specializing in major national crimes and corruption. Investigators searched his residence and confiscated his phone as part of the ongoing inquiry. This development marks a significant escalation in a series of national security-related controversies affecting the prime minister’s inner circle.
The investigation gained momentum following statements by Eliezer Feldstein, a former spokesman for Netanyahu, who has been charged in connection with the leaked document. Feldstein alleged in a recent television interview that Braverman had informed him in 2024 that he could “shut down” the investigation into the leak. This claim has led to the current probe into potential obstruction of justice.
Critics have suggested that some of Netanyahu’s aides may have leaked the classified information in September 2024 as part of a disinformation strategy to bolster the government’s stance on a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release agreement with Hamas. The leak itself has been a subject of intense scrutiny, with the German tabloid Bild reportedly publishing the document.
The detention of Braverman has drawn sharp reactions from opposition figures. Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition, called for Braverman’s planned appointment as Israel’s ambassador to the UK to be immediately suspended, arguing that an individual suspected of obstructing a security investigation should not represent Israel abroad. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel echoed these sentiments, urging Braverman’s suspension from civil service and even calling for Netanyahu himself to be investigated. However, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar defended Braverman, stating that his appointment was lawful and that prejudging an individual based on a preliminary investigation is contrary to fundamental rights.