The investigation stems from earlier reports suggesting Netanyahu edited transcripts of high-level security meetings during the early days of the Gaza war. These edits allegedly aimed to obscure or distort conversations regarding Israel’s military response to Hamas. Some reports indicate that Netanyahu sought to make internal discussions more difficult to trace, raising concerns that these changes were part of an effort to avoid accountability.
Israel is facing significant legal challenges on the international stage. The ICC is considering whether to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and now-former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes, including extermination, related to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The ICC’s investigation is a critical issue for the Israeli leadership, as war crimes charges are among the most serious international allegations a leader can face.
In addition, South Africa has filed a case at the ICJ accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention during its military operations in Gaza. Many nations have decided to join South Africa in this case.
The ICJ, which is based in The Hague, is the principal court for adjudicating violations of international law. (Related: Calls for Netanyahu’s resignation intensify as Israel faces domestic crisis.)
In January, the ICJ issued a preliminary ruling demanding that Israel take immediate steps to prevent any actions that could be seen as violating the Genocide Convention. However, reports suggest that Israel has failed to comply with this ruling.
Netanyahu also being accused of blackmailing military officers
The situation escalated when reports surfaced that Netanyahu’s aides allegedly tried to blackmail a military officer into altering the records of security meetings leading up to the attack.
The officer, who worked in Netanyahu’s office, was reportedly coerced using sensitive personal information obtained from the phone of another staff member. Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, has been named as the individual behind the blackmail attempt, though he has denied the allegations, calling them a “lie” and threatening legal action.
This investigation is just the latest in a series of legal and political scandals surrounding Netanyahu. The prime minister is currently facing a high-profile corruption trial, which has further damaged his public image.
Critics accuse Netanyahu of using his political power to delay military action or prolong the Gaza conflict in order to distract from his legal troubles and to prevent his fractious governing coalition, which includes many religious extremists, from collapsing and triggering an early election.
Amid these legal and political challenges, Netanyahu has resisted calls for a public commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, instead blaming Israel’s security forces for the failures that led to the attack. His office has dismissed the allegations as part of a “web of lies” aimed at undermining his government.
