Israeli families of captives held in Gaza have denied any involvement in the leak of audio recordings in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Qatar's role in negotiations with Hamas over the release of the captives.
The families, through spokesperson Haim Rubinstein, asserted that they were not behind the leak and emphasized that all conversations in meetings with the Prime Minister are recorded by his office and associates present.
Rubinstein highlighted the confiscation of phones from the families participating in the meeting, suggesting that the leak represented a breach of security protocols and a "grave issue" indicative of a loss of control over sensitive information.
This rebuttal follows accusations from the prime minister's office, which initially blamed one of the family members for the leak.
According to reports from Israeli media outlet Walla, the prime minister's office reiterated its stance, claiming to possess evidence in the form of a text message from one of the family members present at the meeting. The message allegedly indicated awareness of another individual having a phone during the meeting, prompting speculation about potential involvement in the leak.
The leaked audio, broadcasted by Israeli Channel 12, captured Netanyahu expressing concerns about Qatar's involvement in negotiating the release of captives, labelling it as "problematic." He also criticized Qatar for allegedly financing Hamas and expressed dissatisfaction with the United States' decision to extend the presence of a military base in the Gulf state.
Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, responded to Netanyahu's remarks, expressing dismay and labelling the reported comments as detrimental to ongoing negotiation efforts. Al-Ansari emphasized the importance of prioritizing the humanitarian aspect of the situation and accused Netanyahu of obstructing mediation processes for political gain.
The captives in question were taken by Hamas fighters during a significant attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in extensive casualties. In response, Israel launched a devastating bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Negotiations, facilitated by Qatar and the US, led to the release of over 100 captives in late November in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, while efforts continue to secure the release of approximately 130 captives still in custody.